Hs-CRP may be associated with white blood cell count in metabolic syndrome patients treated with Ginkgo biloba.
In several clinical trials, it has been demonstrated that osinophil cationic protein (ECP), a sensitive marker of eosinophil ctivation, is associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, in-stent restenois) after bare metal stent (BMS) [1] and drug-eluting stent (DES) mplantation [2], and is implicated in risk prediction for clinical utcome. These findings suggested that allergic inflammation may lay a key role in these adverse reactions occurring after stent mplantation [1–5]. Furthermore, eosinophils are directly involved n coronary atherosclerosis [1,6] and thus, ECP has been estabished as a new biomarker [6]. Since we had observed a decrease in anoplaque formation and size as well as in biomarkers of oxidative tress, plaque formation, stability and progression, and inflamation in a clinical pilot study in metabolic syndrome patients reated with Ginkgo biloba, we revisited these laboratory parameers [7–10]. Thereby, special attention was directed to the number f white blood cells (WBC). A preventional, randomized, 3-month study comprising a 1onth dietary run-in phase followed by a study treatment period f 2 months was conducted in the Phase I–II study clinic of the MHAPT “Zaritza Johanna” University Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria. The roject has been reviewed and approved by the local Ethics Comittee and the Bulgarian Drug Agency. Eleven patients (2 male, 9 emale) with metabolic syndrome aged 26–48 years were recruited, rovided that they fell within the additional inclusion criteria moking (all 11 patients were smokers) and blood lipoprotein(a) Lp(a)] concentration >30 mg/dL (9 patients). The inclusion criteion smoking was enclosed to clearly demonstrate the antioxidative ffect of ginkgo, and Lp(a) > 30 mg/dL was enclosed to confirm the p(a) lowering by 23.4% (p < 0.0234) from the preceding ginkgo tudy in aortocoronary bypass patients (8 patients) [11]. The stanard therapy of the patients was 2 × 120 mg/d G. biloba special xtract EGb 761 (Rökan novo®: Spitzner Arzneimittel, Ettlingen; ebonin®: Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsruhe, Germany) over 2 onths. No statins, no calcium antagonists and no nitrate comounds were given. No adverse events occurred and all the patients elt well during and after ginkgo intake [7]. Nanotechnologic biosensor ellipsometry, photometric methods, ommercial ELISAs and EIAs were applied [7,8]. Hematology was