The expression of adhensive molecules on surface of peripheral leukocytes in patients with coronary artery disease

Objectives Inflammation may play an important role in the development of coronary artery disease. In order to determine whether there is any relationship between them, we examined the expression of adhension molecules CD11b and CD18 antigens on the surface of peripheral polymorphonuc lear leukocytes and monocytes in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods The study population included 54 patients. Among them, 25 patients were diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction, 29 patients were unstable angina. 12 healthy members served as control subjects. Patients with unstable angina were divided into three groups: group 1 ( n= 9, Braunwalds class Ⅰ); group 2 ( n= 8, Braunwald's class Ⅱ); group 3 ( n= 12, Braunwald's class Ⅲ). The expression of CD11b and CD18 antigens was determined by flow cytometry. Results The patients with coronary artery disease had significantly higher concentration of CD11b and CD18 antigens compared with the control group ( P 0 001). The expression of CD11b and CD18 in patients with unstable angina increased from group 1 through 2 to 3 ( P 0 05). Conclusions The presence of increased concentration of CD11b and CD18 suggests that circulating leukocytes are activated in patients with coronary artery disease. The activation of leukocytes is relative to the severity of unstable angina .