Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with proximal/middle segment of the LAD lesions in patients with ST segment elevation infarction

INTRODUCTION: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was revaled to have a close relation with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The relationship between NLR and culprit plaque localization has never been studied. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the association between NLR and unstable plaque localization of left anterior descending artery (LAD) in anterior miyocardial infarction patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients admitted to our hospital with acute anterior STEMI were included. Fifhy-eight patients who have single-vessel disease at LAD and their hematological parameters were analyzed retrospectively. Proximal segment of LAD lesions were groupped as Group I and mid segment of the LAD lesion groupped as Group II. The groups were compared according to their NLR and other parameters. RESULTS: Between group I (n = 41, mean age 52.5 ±12.7) and group II (n = 17, mean ages 52.0 ±10.8); NLR, were significantly higher in group I compared to the group II (6.9 ±5.6 vs. 3.3 ±2.0, p = 0.01). In group I, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly lower (p = 0.02). In correlation analyzes, NLR was positively correlated with CK MB (r = 0.32, p = 0.01) and negatively correlated with LVEF (r = –0.28, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that anterior myocardial infarction patients with high NLR had a greater possibility having proximal culprit lesion on the LAD. Therefore NLR can be used as a useful tool to culprit plaque localization in patients with acute miyocardial infarction patients.