White blood cell (WBC) count has been shown as a risk factor for cardiovasc
ular disease. Decreased insulin sensitivity has been suggested as the link
between these two entities. Our aim was to study the potential relation bet
ween insulin sensitivity and WBC count in patients with coronary artery dis
ease.
In order to assess insulin sensitivity, we performed 83 insulin suppression
tests before and after therapy in 50 patients with coronary artery disease
. Patients with glucose intolerance, arterial hypertension or obesity were
excluded. Steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) and insulin sensitivity index
(ISI = 1 000 x glucose infusion rate/SSPG) were considered as a measure of
insulin sensitivity. WBC count, blood platelets, fibrinogen,, microalbuminu
ria, creatinine, urea and HbA1c were also assessed. Simple and multiple cor
relation analysis were carried out between insulin sensitivity parameters a
nd the other variables measured.
There were significant correlation between SSPG and WBC count (r = 0,32 : p
= 0,003) and microalbuminuria (r = 0,28 : p = 0,012). We also found statis
tically significant correlation between ISI and WBC count (r = 0,27 : p = 0
,015) and microalbuminuria (r = 0,24 : p = 0,029). No correlation could be
detected between either SSPG or ISI and the other variables measured. In mu
ltiple regression analysis, WBC count was found to be an independent predic
tor of both SSPG (p <0.01) and ISI (p < 0.05).
Our data show the existence of a significant relationship between decreased
insulin sensitivity and WBC count in patients with coronary artery disease
. The results of this study suggest that an elevated WBC count could be pos
tulated as part of the insulin resistant syndrome.