Leukocytes and coronary heart disease

Inflammation has been demonstrated to be an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular events. Patients with elevated white blood cell counts have been shown to be in a higher risk of developing acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary and vascular events. We review the clinical data of high white blood cell counts and the prognosis, and demonstrate several possible mechanisms. It is possible that measuring white blood cell count and subpopulations could be used for a better way of risk stratification of patients admitted with acute vascular events. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.