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Total white blood cell count is associated with the presence, severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis detected by dual-source multislice computed tomographic coronary angiography
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Abstract
Methods: A total of 817 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Non-significant coronary plaque was defined as lesions causing £ 50% luminal narrowing, and significant coronary plaque was defined as lesions causing > 50% luminal narrowing. For each segment, coronary atherosclerotic lesions were categorized as none, calcified, non-calcified and mixed. All images were interpreted immediately after scanning by an experienced radiologist.
Results: An association between hypertension, diabetes mellitus, age, gender, hyperlipidemia, smoking, total WBC counts and coronary atherosclerosis was found when patients were grouped into two categories according to the presence of coronary atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Although plaque morphology was not associated with total WBC counts, the extent of coronary atherosclerosis was increased with higher total WBC quartiles (p = 0.006). Patients with critical luminal stenosis had higher levels of total WBC counts when compared to patients with non-critical luminal narrowing (7,982 ± 2,287 vs 7,184 ± 1,944, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that total WBC counts play an important role in inflammation and are associated with the presence, severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis detected by MSCT. Further studies are needed to assess the true impact of WBC counts on coronary atherosclerosis, and to promote its use in predicting CAD. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 4: 371–377)
Abstract
Methods: A total of 817 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Non-significant coronary plaque was defined as lesions causing £ 50% luminal narrowing, and significant coronary plaque was defined as lesions causing > 50% luminal narrowing. For each segment, coronary atherosclerotic lesions were categorized as none, calcified, non-calcified and mixed. All images were interpreted immediately after scanning by an experienced radiologist.
Results: An association between hypertension, diabetes mellitus, age, gender, hyperlipidemia, smoking, total WBC counts and coronary atherosclerosis was found when patients were grouped into two categories according to the presence of coronary atherosclerosis (p < 0.05). Although plaque morphology was not associated with total WBC counts, the extent of coronary atherosclerosis was increased with higher total WBC quartiles (p = 0.006). Patients with critical luminal stenosis had higher levels of total WBC counts when compared to patients with non-critical luminal narrowing (7,982 ± 2,287 vs 7,184 ± 1,944, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that total WBC counts play an important role in inflammation and are associated with the presence, severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis detected by MSCT. Further studies are needed to assess the true impact of WBC counts on coronary atherosclerosis, and to promote its use in predicting CAD. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 4: 371–377)
Keywords
coronary atherosclerosis; computed tomography; leukocytosis
About this articleTitle
Total white blood cell count is associated with the presence, severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis detected by dual-source multislice computed tomographic coronary angiography
Journal
Issue
Pages
371-377
Published online
2011-07-15
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2152
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Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2011;18(4):371-377.
Keywords
coronary atherosclerosis
computed tomography
leukocytosis
Authors
Ahmet Hakan Ates
Ugur Canpolat
Hikmet Yorgun
Ergun Baris Kaya
Hamza Sunman
Edis Demiri
Ali Taher
Tuncay Hazirolan
Kudret Aytemir
Lale Tokgözoglu
Giray Kabakçi
Ali Oto
