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Platelet size, fibrinogen and lipoprotein(a) in coronary heart disease
W M Halbmayer1, A Haushofer, J Radek
1Central Laboratory, Municipal Hospital Vienna-Lainz, Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Mean platelet volume is not a reliable predictor for coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction. This study found no significant differences in mean platelet volume between patients and healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) is linked to arterial thrombosis and myocardial infarction.
- Larger MPV is considered an independent risk factor for recurrent myocardial infarction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if MPV is elevated in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) before cardiac surgery.
- To determine if MPV can serve as a predictive marker for CHD or myocardial infarction.
Main Methods:
- Studied 426 patients with CHD awaiting cardiac surgery and 125 healthy controls.
- Measured MPV and other platelet parameters using a flow cytometric haematology analyser from routine blood counts.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in MPV was observed between CHD patients and controls.
- CHD patients showed elevated levels of fibrinogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein(a).
- MPV did not differ significantly between patients with and without prior myocardial infarction.
Conclusions:
- MPV, measured via routine laboratory procedures, is not a suitable predictive marker for CHD.
- MPV cannot be used to predict myocardial infarction in patients with coronary heart disease.
Background:
An increase in mean platelet volume has been reported to be associated with arterial thrombosis and myocardial infarction. A larger mean platelet volume has been regarded as an independent risk factor for recurrent myocardial infarction. We therefore investigated whether it is also increased in patients with coronary heart disease examined a few days before cardiac surgery.
Methods:
Four hundred and twenty-six patients with coronary heart disease who were waiting for cardiac surgery and 125 healthy individuals were included in the study. Mean platelet volume and other platelet parameters were obtained from a routine blood count procedure using a flow cytometric haematology analyser.
Results:
Mean platelet volume did not differ significantly between patients and controls; however, as expected from the literature, patients had significantly elevated levels of fibrinogen, cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B and apolipoprotein(a). Furthermore, we observed no significant difference in mean platelet volume between patients without myocardial infarction and those who had survived at least one myocardial infarction.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that, using a routine laboratory procedure, mean platelet volume cannot be used as a predictive marker for coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction.