Background and Aim: Many studies have shown a positive relationship between inflammatory factors and coronary artery disease (CAD). It has been proved that the total white blood cell count is an independent risk factor for CAD.A few studies have revealed the relationship between differential white blood cell count and CAD. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between coronary atherosclerosis and either total or differential leukocyte count

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 307 patients who were referred to coronary angiography ward of Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran. Blood samples of all were taken and sent to laboratory to determine total and differential leukocyte count, fasting blood sugar, and cholesterol level. Then, coronary angiography of the subjects was done. After determining the degree of coronary stenosis it was matched with Gensini scoring system. For statistical analysis of continuous variables relationship, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and for determining the relationship between ordinal variables and continuous quantitative variables Spearman's correlation coefficient were applied. α≤0.05 was considered as the significant level.
Results: The patients included 73.8% males and 26.2% females; and the mean age was 55.4 years. The average of total white blood cell count was 7400/mm³ in males and 7200/mm³ in females. The mean Gensini score in males was 41.6 and in females 25.6. There were significant positive correlations between coronary atherosclerosis and either total leukocyte count (P<0.020) or polymorphonuclear (PMN) count (P<0.04) after ignoring factors such as age, sex, body mass index, cigarette smoking, cholesterol, and hypertension.
Conclusion: The significant positive correlations between coronary atherosclerosis and both leukocyte and PMN count can emphasize the role of inflammatory process in CAD.