Change of White Blood Cell and Neutrophil Counts in Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Kwak, Ju Hyun; Yi, Kyong Wook; Park, Hyun Tae; Shin, Jung Ho; Kim, Tak; Hur, Jun Young; Kim, Sun Haeng

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex of several metabolic abnormalities, and a low-grade chronic inflammation is highly associated with this condition. White blood cell (WBC) count is an objective marker of acute infection and various inflammatory conditions. Thus, we tried to examine the WBC and neutrophil counts in premenopausal women with MS.
METHODS
Total of one hundred-seventy one premenopausal women was included in this study; according to NCEP-ATP III criteria, thirty three women confirmed with MS and one hundred thirty-eight women without MS. Anthropometric parameters were measured from the subjects, and the data of blood chemistry (CBC, lipid profile, glucose, and c-reactive protein) were collected. Correlation and regression analyses between the clinical markers of MS and WBC count were performed.
RESULTS
WBC, neutrophil, and CRP levels of women with MS were significantly higher compared than those of women without the disease (P=0.004, P=0.011, and P=0.043, respectively). In correlation analysis, the WBC and neutrophil did not show a significant association with any of the clinical markers among the women with MS.
CONCLUSION
WBC and neutrophil count significantly increased in women with MS, independent of other clinical parameters. Further studies with large-population are needed to determine the biological implication of WBC change in MS.