Aim To measure the plasma soluble OX40 ligand(sOX40L) levels and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with coronary heart disease and age-,sex-matched controls,trying to investigate the relationship between sOX40L and coronary heart disease.Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma sOX40L in 35 patients with stable angina pectoris,30 individuals with high risk factors of coronary heart disease, and 20 age-,sex-matched healthy controls.Carotid IMT was measured with carotid ultrasonography.Results The levels of sOX40L(24.95±15.60 ng/L) was significantly higher in patients with stable angina pectoris compared with control group(16.44±11.31 ng/L;P<0.05).Patients with stable angina pectoris and risk factors had higher values of carotid IMT than controls.Multiple regression analysis indicated that sOX40L level was an independent contributor to carotid IMT(P = 0.019) after controlling age,lipid levels,and blood pressure.Conclusion sOX40L level is an independent contributor to carotid IMT,and suggests the potential diagnostic significance of sOX40L in atherosclerosis.