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Prognostic Value of Circulating Inflammatory Cells in Patients with Stable and Acute Coronary Artery Disease
John A L Meeuwsen1, Marian Wesseling1, Imo E Hoefer2
1Laboratory for Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Insights
Circulating inflammatory cells may serve as crucial biomarkers for predicting recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerosis. Identifying high-risk individuals is key for improving secondary prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease causing most ischemic events like heart attack and stroke.
- While survival rates have improved, 12% of patients experience recurrent events within six months.
- Current risk prediction lacks routine biomarkers for identifying high-risk patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence on circulating inflammatory cells as biomarkers.
- To assess their potential for predicting recurrent adverse events in cardiovascular disease patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on inflammatory cells and cardiovascular events.
- Analysis of current evidence regarding biomarker potential.
Main Results:
- Inflammation plays a central role in atherosclerotic lesion progression and destabilization.
- Circulating inflammatory cells are increasingly studied for their prognostic value.
Conclusions:
- Circulating inflammatory cells show promise as biomarkers for risk stratification.
- Further research is needed to establish their routine clinical utility in secondary prevention.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a lipid driven chronic inflammatory disease underlying the majority of ischemic events such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Clinical management of ischemic events has improved considerably in the past decades. Accordingly, survival rates have increased. Nevertheless, 12% of patients die within 6 months after the initial event. To improve secondary prevention, appropriate risk prediction is key. However, up to date, there is no clinically available routine marker to identify patients at high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events. Due to the central role of inflammation in atherosclerotic lesion progression and destabilization, many studies have focused on the role of circulating inflammatory cells in these processes. This review summarizes the current evidence on the potential of circulating inflammatory cells as biomarkers for recurrent adverse manifestations in acute coronary syndrome and stable coronary artery disease patients.
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