HEMATOLOGICAL PROGNOSTIC INDEXES AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - EVIDENCE FROM THE DIET AND REINFARCTION TRIAL (DART)

Data from the Diet and Reinfarction Trial were examined to check the prognostic effects of plasma fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and mean platelet volume in 92 deaths among 1755 men who had recently recoveredfrom acute mvocardial infarction. All these variables were signficantly associated with all-cause mortality over the following 18 months (haemoglobin negatively, the others positively). Those who gave up smoking following their infarct had a lower mortality than those who continued to smoke (41% and 79% respectively), and this effect appeared to be mediated by fibrinogen levels. Smoking habit accounted for only part of the prognostic effect of fibrinogen and white blood cell count. Haematological variables have an important prognostic significance after myocardial infarction. Cessation of smoking after mvocardial infarction is worthwhile and has a favourable effect on plasma fibrinogen. © 1992 The European Society of Cardiology.