title: Predictors of coronary collaterals in patients with non ST-elevated acute coronary syndrome: the paradox of the leukocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis represents active inflammation in which leukocytes play significant role. Coronary collateral development is a response to myocardial ischaemia. In this study we aimed to investigate the association of the leukocytes with coronary collateral development in patients with non ST-elevated acute coronary syndromes (NST-ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 251 consecutive patients were hospitalized in our hospital with a diagnosis of NST-ACS. The blood samples were collected 1-hour after admission to the hospital and peripheral leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes) were examined. All patients underwent coronary angiography. The coronary collateral vessels (CCV) are graded according to the Rentrop scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 consisted of 146 patients with Rentrop 0 and Group 2 consisted of 105 patients with Rentrop 1, 2 and 3. The presence of CCV was significantly associated with neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In subgroup analyses, higher NLR was significantly associated with good CCV development in patients with NST-ACS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher neutrophil count, monocyte count and NLR and lower lymphocyte count on admission, were associated with the presence of CCV in patients with NST-ACS. High NLR may predict good collateral development in patients with NST-ACS.
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tenekecioglu
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaagac
authors.affiliation: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Medicine School, Cardiology, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekler
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Adana State Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serafettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzeytemiz
keywords: angiogenesis; coronary collateral vessel; leukocytes