Platelets volume indexes and cardiovascular risk factors

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hematology
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
• These conditions promote hypercoagulability, with platelets playing a crucial role in atherosclerosis development.
• Platelet volume indexes (PVIs) offer insights into platelet function and CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature associating PVIs with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
• To evaluate PVIs as potential subclinical markers for CVD.
• To understand platelet mechanisms in CVD development.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating PVIs (MPV, PDW, P-LCR) in relation to CVD risk factors.
• Analysis of data from automated hematology analyzers.
• Evaluation of indirect platelet function estimation.

Main Results:

• Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) shows promise for early detection of platelet activation and identifying patients at risk for CVD.
• Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) also demonstrates promising results, though evaluated in fewer studies.
• PVIs are easily obtainable from standard hematology analyzers.

Conclusions:

• MPV and PDW show potential as subclinical markers for CVD risk.
• More epidemiological evidence, standardized reference values, and presentation methods are required for clinical implementation.
• PVIs could aid in implementing preventive strategies for CVD.