Total Leucocyte Count and Platelet Count as Predictors for the Development of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Total leucocyte count (TLC), platelet count (PC) and platelet aggregation (PA) were performed in 70 patients of acute Myocardial Infarction (MO and the values were compared with 30 healthy control subjects. The patients were selected from causality departments of Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital and Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore. Blood Samples were drawn before the institution of any antiplatelet therapy. Mean value of TLC in patients was 10.63 ± 1.65 x 109/L and it was significantly higher (P <0.001) than the control value (7.46 ± 1.7 x 109/L). In 44 (62.8%) patients, TLC values were found to be higher than the normal value. Similarly the mean PC value was significantly higher in patients (309.4 ± 67.6 x 109/L) than the controls (236.5 ± 55.4 x 109/L) (P < 0.001). The aggregation response of platelets to ADP and collagen (primary and secondary agonists) was observed. In Platelet aggregation studies, percentage aggregation, slope of aggregation, spontaneous aggregation (SPA) and threshold concentrations were measured in all the subjects. 66 (95%) of control subjects had enhanced
values. Similar were the observation with SPA in both groups. The mean threshold concentration value with ADP was 1.1 umol patients as compared with the control value of 4.9 umol. PC was in the upper normal range (350 450 x 1091L) in 41(58.3%) patients and 3 (10%) controls. All the above values thus differed significantly between Patients and controls (P> 0.001). We suggest that raised TLC and PC may be considered as independent risk factors for the development of acute MI.