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Thromb Haemost 1997; 77(06): 1073-1076
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1656114
Clinical Studies
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Leucocyte Rheological Properties Are Altered in Patients with Diffuse Atherosclerosis

Alberto Galante
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Antonio Pietroiusti
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Andrea Magrini
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Sandro Carta
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Laura Franceschelli
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Paola Piccolo
The Medical Semiology and Methodology, Rome, Italy
,
Giuseppe Raimondo Pistolese
1   Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome
,
Eugenio Martelli
1   Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome
,
Antonio Mastino
2   Institute of Microbiology, University of Messina, Messina
,
Claudia Matteucci
3   Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Science, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome
,
Sandro Grelli
4   Institute of Experimental Medicine, C.N.R., Rome
,
Cartesio Favalli
5   I.R.C.C.S. S. Lucia, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 30 September 1996

Accepted after resubmission 28 February 1997

Publication Date:
12 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

To evaluate whether atherosclerosis may be associated with altered leucocyte rheology, we assessed leucocyte count (by Coulter counter), aggregation (by means of the leukergy test) and expression of adhesion molecules integrin LFA-1 and CD 44 (by means of immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry) in 9 patients with carotid plus lower limb artery atherosclerosis (group A), 14 patients with carotid atherosclerosis only (group B) and 23 controls without atherosclerosis (group C). The level of LFA-1 (calculated as mean fluorescence channels - MFCs) on neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes was significantly higher (p <0.05) in group A and B patients than in controls (group A - mean ± SE : 383.77 ± 9.42 vs 295.45 ± 5.76; 474.22 ± 8.86 vs ± 7.84; 457.66 ± 12.03 vs 396.25 ± 4.37. Group B: 322.42 ± 6.36 vs 295.45 ± 5.76; 421.42 ± 7.21 vs 388.35 ± 7.84; 415.71 ± 7.73 vs 396.25 ± 4.37, respectively); furthermore, the MFC of LFA-1 on neutrophils was significantly different (p <0.05) between group A and B patients. The percentage of aggregated leucocytes was significantly higher (p <0.05) in group A patients (4.46 ± 1.07) than those in groups B (1.75 ± 0.38) and C (1.43 ± 0.25), whereas no significant difference was detected between groups B and C. Leucocyte number and expression of CD44 were not significantly different among the 3 groups. In conclusion, changes in leucocyte rheology are present in patients with atherosclerosis and may contribute to chronic ischaemia.

 

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