Circulating platelet and neutrophil activation correlates with the clinical course of unstable angina

Recent studies have suggested important roles of inflammation in the pathophysiology of unstable angina (UA). We investigated whether activation of the circulating platelets and neutrophils were implicated in inflammatory reactions associated with unstable angina Expressions of platelet P-selectin and neutrophil CD11b, and neutrophil-platelet aggregates were evaluated by flow cytometry in anticoagulated peripheral venous blood from 71 patients with UA and 22 patients with stable angina (SA). Expressions of platelet P-selectin and neutrophil CD11b, and neutrophil-platelet aggregates on the admission day were all significantly higher in 71 patients with UA than 22 with SA (median, mean fluorescence intensity [MFI]: 7.00 vs 4.51, P < 0.01, 64.68 vs 47.75, P = 0.0007; and % of 10 000 neutrophils: 7.84 vs 3.40, P = 0.0001, respectively). These three parameters in 43 patients with UA were significantly decreased (MFI: 4.23, P = 0.003, 50.82, P = 0.0003; and % of 10 000 neutrophils: 5.04, P = 0.0001, respectively) 7 days after the first measurement. These results indicate that circulating activated platelets and neutrophils are more strongly implicated in the acute phase of UA. These findings also suggest that thrombus formation after rupture of atherosclerotic plaques as well as plaque formation involves inflammatory reactions.