Researches

The diagnostic value of lymphopenia in the prediagnosis of acute coronary syndrome on the patients with chest pain in an hospital in which cardiac enzymes can’t be measured

  • Özgür Tanrıverdi

Received Date: 20.12.2005 Accepted Date: 10.01.2006 Med J Bakirkoy 2006;2(1):19-21

Objective:

It is aimed to determine the diagnostic values of lymphopenia and moderate leukocytosis in the prediagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Material and Methods:

Patients were divided into 4 groups as follows: 4 patients with typical acute myocard infarction (AMI) symptoms on electrocardiography (ECG) were classified as Group 1, 8 patients with ST-T segment changes with unstable angina pectoris (USAP) classification were classified as Group 2, 14 patients without ST-T segment changes with USAP classification were classified as Group 3 and 10 patients with normal ECG findings and atypical chest pain were classified as Group 4. Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were determined according to the onset hour of chest pain. Levels of creatine kinase (CK) and MB form of CK (CK-MB) and the diagnoses in the units where the patients are referred to were registered. The accuracy, specifity and sensitivity rates of lymphopenia in the diagnosis were determined by the data collected at the end of 3 months.

Results:

Lymphopenia and moderate leukocytosis were determined to be more significant in diagnosis at 3-6 hours after the onset of chest pain than at earlier or later hours. When the cut-off value for lymphopenia was set as <18%, the accuracy for diagnosis was determined as 94%, the sensitivity as 96% and the specifity as 92%.

Conclusion:

It is decided that lymphopenia is valuable in the prediagnosis of the patients with chest pain and is important in the follow- up of patient especially without ECG findings.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, lymphopenia, acute myocardial infarct