Association of neutrophil count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio with coronary artery ectasia

CAE characterized as diffuse dilatation of epicardial coronary arteries has been shown to have association with risks of death and myocardial infarction. Neutrophil count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are cost effective, available and rapidly measureable inflammatory marker. In this study we decided to investigate the association between these factors as inflammatory markers and CAE severity.

In this cross sectional study 577 patients who underwent coronary angiography between September 2016 and September 2017 were evaluated. According to angiography findings patients were divided into four groups: 1-normal coronary artery, 2-coronary artery diseased group, 3-low risk coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and 4-high risk CAE.

In CAE group 61 patients (52.1%) had one vessel involvement and defined as low risk and 56 patients (47.9%) had two or more vessel involvement and grouped as high risk CAE. NLR was non-significantly higher in CAD group following high risk CAE group. (2.61±0.51 and 2.33±0.11 respectively) absolute neutrophil count was significantly higher in CAD and high risk CAE groups.

Neutrophil count is an inflammatory marker with good association with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease.