Inflammation, Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Artery Disease

To the Editor: In his review of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease, Hansson (April 21 issue) 1 focuses on T cells, macrophages, and mast cells as the cellular components of the immune system that play a key role in ischemic heart disease. However, he omits a possible role for neutrophils. Several lines of evidence support the possibility that these cells are involved in this condition. Early studies showed a strong positive correlation between peripheral-blood neutrophil counts and the risk of acute myocardial infarction 2 and documented the presence of activated circulating neutrophils in acute coronary syndromes. 3 Furthermore, infiltration by neutrophils of . . .