Is leukocytosis a predictor for recurrence of ischemic events after coronary artery bypass graft surgery? A cohort study.

Objective. Studies have shown that inflammation plays an important role in pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of high WBC count before CABG in predicting the risk of ischemic events after CABG. Methods and Results. This prospective study was carried out on 380 patients who underwent CABG surgery. Ninety seven patients (25.5%) had recurrent ischemic event. Mean WBC count before CABG surgery in patients with recurrent ischemic event was 7267 mic/lit ± 1863, which was significantly higher than the others, with a mean WBC count of 6721 mic/lit ± 1734 (P = 0.011). Patients with a WBC count more than 6000 mic/lit were at the highest risk for recurrent ischemic event (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18-3.44, P = 0.009). After adjustment for age, sex, family history, smoking, hyperlipidemia, Logestic Euro score, post opretive enzyme release (CK.mb), arterial graft and BMI, the relationship between the group with WBC count higher than 6000 mic/lit and recurrent of ischemic event remained significant (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.2 to 4, P = 0.005). Conclusions. High WBC count before CABG surgery is an independent risk factor for ischemic events one year after the surgery.