Wirkung von Leukozyten auf den Gefässtonus

Numerous epidemiologic studies described an association between the risk of cardiovascular complications and the blood leukocyte count. In addition, an abnormal activation of leukocytes obtained from the coronary venous blood has been found in patients with unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction. These observations suggest that the elevated leukocyte count and activation is not an epiphenomenon but instead that leukocytes play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications. Several in vitro and in vivo experiments were presented demonstrating that activated leukocytes (granulocytes and mononuclear cells) may influence vascular tone by direct and indirect mechanisms