The American journal of cardiology
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Little is known about the prognostic value of leukocyte count on admission for patients with chest pain. In total, 1,461 patients who presented to the emergency department with non-ST-segment elevation chest pain were studied by clinical history, electrocardiography, serial troponin I determination, and leukocyte count on admission. End points were 1-year mortality and major events (mortality or infarction). ⋯ Further, in the subgroup with normal troponin levels, leukocyte count was not significantly different between patients with or without ST depression (7,969 +/- 2,171 vs 8,108 +/- 2,356 cells/ml, p = 0.6) and was not associated with mortality in patients with ST depression (p = 0.7). In conclusion, leukocyte count on admission is predictive of mortality in patients with chest pain and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, in the absence of myocardial necrosis, leukocyte count lacks prognostic value.