Increased expression of the CD11b/CD18 antigen on the surface of peripheral white blood cells in patients with ischemic heart disease: Further evidence for smoldering inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis

Background This study examined the availability of the CD11b/CD18 and CD62L antigens on the surface of peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with is chemic heart disease. Methods and Results The study population included 45 patients with angiogra phically documented ischemic heart disease admitted to our department of in ternal medicine and the cardiology department during 1 month (December 1997 ). Sixty-six healthy members of the hospital medical staff served as contro l subjects. Another 39 post-trauma patients who were admitted to the emerge ncy room were also evaluated. Patients with ischemic heart disease had sign ificantly (P < .002) higher concentrations of CD11b/CD18 antigen on the sur face of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes (mean fluorescence intensity of 203 +/- 81 and 261 +/- 75, respectively) compared with the co ntrol group (mean fluorescence intensity 158 +/- 68 and 211 +/- 74, respect ively) and to the group of patients with acute stress (mean fluorescence in tensity of 146 +/- 70 and 200 +/- 22, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The presence of increased concentration of CD11b/CD18 suggests that circulating leukocytes ore activated in patients with ischemic heart d isease. This activation probably reflects the presence of an inflammatory r esponse involving the atherosclerotic lesion and is not merely a result of acute stress.