Aortic flow propagation velocity and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in coronary slow flow.

Aim: A useful tool for determining the presence of systemic inflammation is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Chronic inflammation causes more microvascular resistance, which is known to be involved with coronary slow flow (CSF). Aortic flow propagation velocity (APV) can be used to evaluate the aorta's rigidity. We hypothesized that NLR and APV might be related to CSF. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the NLR and APV in CSF patients.

Method: Eighty-six CSF patients and 43 subjects with normal coronary flow were enrolled in this study. We utilized the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) method for determining each enrolled patient's coronary flow rate. APV values were determined via color M-mode Doppler echocardiography. Differences in NLR and APV values were determined in CSF and control groups.

Results: Patients with CSF had lower APV values and higher NLR values than the normal controls (39.9±11.4 vs 48.0±10.6, p<0.01; 3.3±2.8 vs 2.3±1.2, p=0.03). TFC was significantly higher in CSF patients compared to controls (29.8±5.0 vs 12.9±2.6; p<0.01). TFC and APV were negatively correlated in CSF patients (r=-0.338 p=0.001). APV was independently associated with CSF (OR: 1.164, CI: 1.078-1.257, p=0.001).

Conclusions: APV was significantly associated with TFC, and it is independently associated with CSF (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 30). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: coronary slow flow, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, aortic flow propagation velocity, atherosclerosis, inflammation.