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Published on: October 17, 2017
Association between circulating monocytes and coronary plaque progression in patients with acute myocardial
Naoki Nozawa1, Kiyoshi Hibi, Mitsuaki Endo
1Division of Cardiology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
Insights
High peak monocyte counts after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) predict coronary plaque progression. Monitoring monocytes during hospitalization may help identify patients at risk for atherosclerosis development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Monocytes and macrophages are key players in atherosclerosis progression.
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) involves complex inflammatory processes.
- Non-culprit intermediate lesions are vulnerable in AMI patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if circulating monocyte count predicts coronary plaque progression in non-culprit intermediate lesions after AMI.
- To establish monocyte count as a potential biomarker for atherosclerosis development post-AMI.
Main Methods:
- Intravascular ultrasound imaging of 90 AMI patients' non-culprit lesions.
- Analysis of plaque volume changes from acute phase to 7-month follow-up.
- Correlation of peak and follow-up monocyte counts with plaque progression.
Main Results:
- Higher peak monocyte counts post-AMI correlated with increased plaque volume change (r=0.32, P=0.002).
- A peak monocyte count ≥800/mm³ independently predicted plaque progression (OR 5.02, P=0.005).
- Elevated baseline monocyte counts predicted higher counts at 7-month follow-up and were associated with plaque volume change (r=0.29, P=0.006).
Conclusions:
- Circulating monocytes significantly contribute to coronary plaque progression in AMI.
- Peak monocyte count during hospitalization serves as a potential predictor of plaque progression.
- Monocyte count monitoring may aid in managing atherosclerosis risk after AMI.
Background:
Monocytes and macrophages have been shown to play major roles in the progression of atherosclerosis. This study examined whether the circulating monocyte count can be used to predict coronary plaque progression of non-culprit intermediate lesions in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Methods And Results:
Intravascular ultrasound findings of non-culprit intermediate plaque in 90 patients were analyzed in the acute phase and at a 7-month follow up. A higher peak monocyte count after AMI was associated with a greater plaque volume change (r=0.32, P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that a peak monocyte count of > or =800 /mm(3) was an independent predictor of plaque progression (odds ratio 5.02, P=0.005). High monocyte (> or =800 /mm(3)) at baseline had a higher monocyte count at 7-month follow up than did those with a lower count (368+/-109 vs 263+/-64 /mm(3), P<0.0001). Moreover, the monocyte count at the 7-month follow up was also associated with plaque volume change (r=0.29, P=0.006).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that circulating monocytes play an important role in the progression of coronary plaque in AMI and that the peak monocyte count during hospitalization might be a predictor of plaque progression.
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