Monocyte count as an independent predictor of high thrombus burden in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Due to the lack of a prior comprehensive review and meta-analysis, the relationship between monocyte count and thrombus load in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been adequately established.

METHODS

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple cohorts (retrospective and prospective) and cross-sectional studies.We queried electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central) from their inception to April 2022. The included studies had patients who had undergone PCI treatment and were classified using thrombolysis in myocardial infarction thrombus grading. Dichotomous outcomes from the studies were presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals while means ± standard deviation were presented for continuous outcomes. Means ± standard deviation of monocyte levels and odds ratios were pooled using an inverse variance-weighted random-effects model. I² statistics are used to evaluate heterogeneity across studies and subgrouping was performed to reduce the heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Five eligible studies, consisting of 1426 patients were included, out of which 776 had a high thrombus burden. Pooled results after subgroup analysis showed a significant relationship between raised monocyte count and high thrombus burden (odds ratios = 1.44; 95% confidence interval = 1.06-1.96; P = .02; I2 = 71%). Post-subgroup pooled analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between high thrombus burden and raised monocyte count.

CONCLUSION

STEMI patients with a high thrombus burden show an increased monocyte count. A high monocyte count upon admission is a major indication of increased intracoronary thrombus burden in STEMI patients with PCI procedures.