[Influence of leukocytes on coronary flow reserve, left ventricular systolic function, and in-hospital events, in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty].

Objective: To assess the relationship between leukocyte count, non invasive coronary flow reserve (CFR), left ventricular systolic function, and in-hospital adverse events in acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by primary angioplasty.

Methods: Leukocyte count at admission and within 24h after angioplasty, and differential count at admission were obtained in 72 consecutive patients with a first AMI (mean age 56±12 years) successfully treated by primary angioplasty. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was performed within 24h after angioplasty and 3 months later to assess the CFR (using intravenous adenosine), in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the wall motion score index using the nine segments assigned to the LAD territory (WMSi-lad). In hospital events were defined as death, heart failure (Killip≥2) and reinfarction.

Results: Leukocyte count was higher before and after angioplasty in patients with impaired acute CFR (<1.7), when compared to patients without such impairment (P≤0.01), and a significant correlation was found between CFR and leukocyte, neutrophil and monocyte count (P<0.05). Leukocyte (before and after angioplasty), and neutrophil count, were lower in patients with recovery of global and regional LV function (P<0.05). A significant correlation was found between leukocyte count before and after angioplasty, and, initial and follow-up LVEF, and WMSi-lad (all, P≤0.01). Leukocyte (before and after angioplasty) and monocyte count were higher in patients with in-hospital events (n=14), by comparison to patients without events (all, P<0.01). In multivariate analysis, leukocyte count after angioplasty was an independent predictor of CFR, and in-hospital events, and neutrophil count of WMSi-lad at follow-up (all, P<0.05).

Conclusion: In the first AMI treated successfully by primary angioplasty, leukocyte count is inversely correlated to CFR, and global and regional LV systolic function at follow-up. These links are higher after than before reperfusion. And, leukocyte count after angioplasty is an independent predictor of in-hospital adverse events.