Relation Between White Blood Cell Counts and Myocardial Reperfusion in Patients With Recanalized Anterior Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background The clinical significance of the white blood cell (WBC) count on admission in relation to the duration of ischemia in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Methods and Results The relationship of the WBC count on admission to myocardial reperfusion was examined in 135 patients with recanalization of an anterior AMI within 6 h of symptom onset. Patients were classified according to the WBC count on admission: Group L (n=75), WBC count 3 h) recanalization; however, peak CK and the incidence of impaired myocardial reperfusion were similar in these subgroups of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that WBC count ≥12,000 cells/mm3 on admission was an independent predictor of impaired myocardial reperfusion in patients with early recanalization (odds ratio 7.9, p=0.04), but not in those with late recanalization. Conclusions A higher WBC count may be associated with progression of myocardial damage after recanalization in patients with early recanalization of an anterior AMI. (Circ J 2004; 68: 526 - 531)