Association Between White Blood Cell Count, Epicardial Blood Flow, Myocardial Perfusion, and Clinical Outcomes in the Setting of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Elevation in WBC count was associated with reduced epicardial blood flow and myocardial perfusion, thromboresistance (arteries open later and have a greater thrombus burden), and a higher incidence of new congestive heart failure and death. These observations provide a potential explanation for the higher mortality rate observed among AMI patients with elevated WBC counts and helps explain the growing body of literature that links inflammation and cardiovascular disease.