Predicting CAD severity using the leukocyte glucose index: a review

It is known that hyperglycemia can cause thrombosis and fibrinolysis. These conditions can correlate with atherosclerotic plaques forming. It is also known that high levels of leukocytes are correlated with atherosclerosis, as well as cardiovascular diseases in general. So, leukocytes are used as an indicator when assessing cardiovascular disease risk. The leukocyte glycemic index can combine this information. It is easily calculated and is a non-invasive index which combines a patient’s leukocyte count and blood glucose score. The leukocyte glycemic index can predict acute myocardial infarction and stroke, so this study explored using this index for understanding the severity of coronary artery disease on 134 patients. It was found that a high leukocyte glycemic index predicted in-hospital mortality and mortality at ischemic stroke. Overall, it predicted coronary artery disease severity in patients with chronic coronary syndrome class 1.

This review by Kilic O et al. aimed to explore the use of the leukocyte glucose index in predicting coronary artery disease severity.

Key learnings

The leukocyte glycemic index was found to have a high specificity but a low sensitivity for the severity of coronary artery disease. Therefore, more research is needed into using this index as a tool through conducting larger studies. However, overall, and especially in older patients, the leukocyte glycemic index holds the potential to be a useful marker for predicting coronary artery disease severity.