The Relationship Between the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease and Erythrocyte Morphology Parameters Measured by New-Generation Hematology Analyzer

Background: There is a possible relation between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and various clinical conditions. These conditions can render RDW disadvantageous in its relation with cardiovascular disease. There may be a relation between the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the percentage of hypochromia (hypo%), percentage of hyperchromia (hyper%), percentage of macrocytosis (MAC%), and percentage of microcytosis (MIC%) values measured using new-generation hematological devices.

Objective: We aimed to examine the relation between the SYNTAX score and the hypo%, hyper%, MAC%, and MIC% values in patients admitted with ACS.

Methods: A group of 55 patients who underwent coronary angiography with diagnosis of ACS (STEMI and NSTEMI) and a control group of 48 patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the study. Venous blood samples were collected in the morning after a fasting of at least 8 h and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Hemogram parameters were studied using Alinity HQ (Abbott, USA) a completely automated hemogram autoanalyzer. Biochemical parameters were studied using Architect c16000 (Abbott, USA) a completely automated biochemistry autoanalyzer.

Results: Significant difference was observed in erythrocyte morphology-related tests (mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, RDW, hypo%, hyper%, MIC%, and MAC%) between the groups. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the SYNTAX score and MAC% (r = 0.315, p = 0.019). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed for MAC% to identify the independent predictors of the SYNTAX score (β = 0.315, p = 0.019).

Conclusion: Changes in MAC% test can be measured in emergencies with new-generation hematological devices and used as independent predictors of the presence of severe coronary artery disease.