Increased neutrophil aggregability in coronary artery disease

The purpose of this investigation was to study neutrophil (PMN)aggregation in the aorta and coronary sinus of 20 patients withangiographically documented coronary artery disease (group I)compared with eight patients with normal coronary arteries (groupII). PMNs were separated from the other blood components andtheir aggregation response to Ca²⁺ ionophore A 23187 1 x 10^–5M (final concentration) was measured. Group I patients had higher aggregating activity in the coronarysinus than in the aorta (24.9± 3.7 vs 18.7± 3.4average maximum T, P<0.01), while no difference was foundin group II (coronary sinus 16.7±3.5; aorta 16.3±2.4average maximum TP = NS). Among group I patients, smokers hada significantly higher aggregating activity than non-smokers,whereas no correlation was found between aggregation responseand blood cholesterol values. These data suggest that the presence of atherosclerotic plaquesin coronary vessels may prime PMNs so that they show greateraggregating response to subsequent stimulation.