Objective: To compare the platelet-leukocyte-aggregates (PLAs) level among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable angina pectoris (SAP).
Methods: Hospitalized patients were divided into three groups [ACS group (n=86), SAP group (n=54), the control group with 46 patients without coronary artery disease]. PLAs were measured by flow cytometry at admission before coronary angiography. ACS patients were further divided into low-risk group (0-108 points) and high-risk group (>109 points) according to GRACE scores at admission. PLA, platelet-monocyte aggregations (PMA), platelet-neutrophil aggregations (PNA), platelet-lymphocyte aggregations (PlyA) and hs-CRP values were compared among groups.
Results: PLA (4.40%±3.08%), PMA (33.6%±21.5%), PNA (3.76%±5.06%), PLyA (2.03%±1.27%) and hs-CRP [5.75 (3.49, 9.15)] levels in ACS group were significantly higher than those in SAP and control groups (all P<0.05). PLA was also significantly higher in high-risk group than in the low-risk group (44.8%±18.0% vs. 13.0%±6.3%, P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that hs-CRP was positively correlated with PMA (r=0.547, P<0.01) and GRACE score is positively correlated with PMA, PLA, PNA and PlyA (r=0.746, 0.652, 0.460, respectively, all P<0.01).
Conclusion: PLAs is increased in ACS patients and higher PMA level is related with the unstable coronary syndrome in ACS patients. Increased PMA, PLA, PNA and PlyA levels is associated with higher GRACE score in ACS patients.