White Blood Cells May Predict Heart Events
March 15, 2005
A U.S. study suggests white blood cell count may predict cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women not identified at risk for heart attack.
Increasing evidence supports a role for inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis, thickening and hardening of arteries.
Measurement of a number of different molecules involved in inflammation has been proposed as a way to identify and monitor patients at risk for coronary heart disease.
Karen Margolis of the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis used data from a total of more than 72,000 women in her study.
The findings are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.