Combined leukocyte and erythrocyte aggregation in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives: To determine whether the increased aggregability of both white and red blood cells previously reported in acute myocardial infarction (aMI) correlates with each other. Design: Cross-sectional study comparing two groups of patients and a group of healthy controls. Setting: A tertiary university affiliated hospital (Intensive Cardiac Care Unit and Department of General Internal Medicine). Patients: Consecutive patients with aMI, patients with chest pain and no infarction, and healthy controls. Measurements and results: We adapted a simple slide test and image analysis to reveal the state of both leukocyte and erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of patients with aMI. A significant (P=0.0001) increment in the aggregation of both cellular populations was noted in 48 patients with aMI as opposed to the 141 patients with ischemic heart disease and no infarction and in 45 matched controls. In addition, a significant correlation was noted between the various variables of the leukocyte and erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation tests. Conclusions: The significant correlation between the aggregability of white and red blood cells in patients with aMI is suggestive of there being a commonly shared adhesive protein(s). The prompt identification of patients with increased aggregation might have clinical and therapeutic implications.