The relationship of mean platelet volume with the risk and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

To the Editor: We have read with great interest the article entitled ‘The relationship of mean platelet volume with the risk and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases’ by Vizioli et al. which is published in your journal (1). In this review, authors suggested that larger platelets are more reactive; thus they are associated with a shortened bleeding time and increased thromboxane B2 plasma levels, and MPV could be considered as an indicator of platelet function. In 2006, we reported our study that aim to investigate the relationship between platelet indices and optical platelet aggregation responses in healthy adults and if present, to evaluate predictive value of platelet indices on aggregation responses (2). This study was carried out on a total of 31 healthy adults, 17 men and 14 women, whose ages ranging from 20 to 42 (mean ± SD: 28.26 ± 6.36 years). Platelet parameters, including platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and plateletcrit were determined in platelet rich plasma using Abbott Cell-Dyn 4000. Platelet aggregation was induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (5 μm), collagen (2.0 μg/ml) and epinephrine (10 μm). Optical aggregation was performed using a turbidometric method (Chrono-log Corporation, Model 560-Ca, Havertown, PA, USA) according to the protocol of Sigma Diagnostics, procedure no.885. Platelet aggregation was performed by using Sigma platelet aggregating reagents (Sigma Diagnostic Corporation, St. Louis, USA, Code No 885/A. For ADP: 885/3, for collagen: 885/1, and for epinephrine: 885/5). The correlations with platelet aggregation responses and platelet indices were investigated with simple correlation and regression analysis. We could not find any correlation between MPV values and platelet aggregation results in our study. On conclusion, results of our study performed on healthy adults did not support the suggestion that MPV could be used as an indicator of platelet function as Vizioli et al. stated in their review. Although our study contained important data, this study was performed in a very controlled population. Studies searching how the platelet indices compare with platelet function in the presence of risk factors such as obesity and diabetes, and in the presence of coronary and cerebrovascular diseases could provide important clues in understanding these data. The authors have no conflicts of interest.