Background: Data are being accumulated on the presence of inflammatory response in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to confirm that the adhesive state of the peripheral blood leukocytes can provide information on an inflammatory process in patients with unstable angina pectoris.
Methods: The study included 21 patients with unstable angina, 32 patients with stable angina, and 13 patients with chest pain and no evidence of coronary artery disease.
Results: The percentage of aggregated leukocytes in patients with unstable angina (5.8 +/- 3.2%) was significantly (p < 0.02) increased compared with that of patients with no evidence of active coronary disease (3.2 +/- 2.6%).
Conclusion: Additional evidence for an existing smoldering inflammatory process in unstable angina pectoris can be provided by testing the percentage of aggregated leukocytes in peripheral blood.