RESUMO
Background: Leukocytosis occurs as a response to a variety of infammatory processes. Aim: To determine if white blood cell count (WBCC) at admission among patients who suffer an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has an independent prog-nostic value for the occurrence of new cardiovascular adverse events (CAE). Patients and Methods: Prospective study of 558 patients aged 68 ± 13 years (122 women) admitted to the hospital for an acute coronary syndrome. WBCC was measured at admission. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association of WBCC with the occurrence of CAE during the next six months after admission (post infarction angina, re-infarction, cardiac failure and mortality). Results: An univariate analysis showed that patients with a WBCC > 15.000 cell/mm³ had a signifcantly higher mortality and occurrence of CAE. The multivariate analysis showed that subjects with WBCC < 10.000 cell/mm³ experienced fewer CAE than subjects with a WBCC > 15.000 cell/mm³, with an odds ratio of 0.46 (95 percent confdence intervals = 0.21-0.97, p = 0,042). Conclusions: An elevated WBCC at admission among patients with an ACS is associated with a higher incidence of CAE in the ensuing six months.