Platelet Indices in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

The platelet indices Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) and Platelet-crit (PCT) provided by automated hematology analysis are rarely used in clinical practice. Plate-lets play a central role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and high MPV has been associated to more reactive platelets and regarded as an independent risk factor for myo-cardial infarction. In this study, platelet indices were evaluated in 39 patients with ACS presenting two altered biochemical parameters, C reactive protein (CRP) and creatine kinase fraction MB (CK-MB). The results obtained showed significantly higher MPV and PDW values in the group with ACS in comparison to the control group. Also observed was a weak but significant positive correla-tion between MPV and CK-MB. In view of findings of previous studies, which have associated ma-croplatelets with higher thrombotic potential our results suggest that the use of the MPV and PDW indices as additional and complementary markers may contribute to the investigation and follow-up of thrombotic risk in patients with ACS.