Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical
Center affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel
Aviv, Israel | Department of Medicine "D", Tel Aviv Sourasky
Medical Center affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University,
Tel Aviv, Israel
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof. Natan M. Bornstein, MD, Head,
Department of Neurology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street,
Tel Aviv 64239 Israel. Tel.: +972 3 6973159; Fax: +972 3 6973146; E-mail:
strokeun@tasmc.health.gov.il
Abstract: Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Design: We have evaluated the degree of erythrocyte aggregation (EA) as a
microinflammatory biomarker in a cohort of hospital-based, neurologically
asymptomatic outpatients. Methods: The degree of EA and carotid artery
stenosis was evaluated in 510 individuals by using a simple slide test and
image analysis. Results: Four hundred and sixteen individuals had minimal
carotid stenosis (< 30%); 47 had mild to moderate stenosis (30–69%)
and 47 had severe stenosis (> 70%). A significant correlation was noted
between the degree of carotid stenosis and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR), white blood cell count (WBCC) and fibrinogen (r=0.160, p=0.005;
r=0.191, p=0.001 and r=0.126, p=0.026, respectively). The
significant correlation was noted between the degree of carotid stenosis and EA
(r=0.209, p< 0.001). The subjects with severe stenosis differed
significantly from the other groups in their ESR, WBCC and EA. High sensitivity
C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations did not discriminate between the
presence and absence of significant carotid atherosclerotic disease. Conclusions: Inflammatory biomarkers such as ESR and the EA test are more
sensitive than hs-CRP to the presence of a significant atherosclerotic carotid
burden. These biomarkers might aid in the detection and quantification of
microinflammation in individuals with carotid atherosclerosis.
