Evaluation of platelet indexes in patients with aortic aneurysm

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether platelet indexes [platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), and platelet distribution width (PDW)] could serve as diagnostic tools to evaluate the potential significance of platelet heterogeneity on thrombus formation. Blood samples were obtained from 54 patients with aortic aneurysm (AA; mean age 73 years; 40 males, 14 females), from 120 age-matched controls (AC; mean age 74 years; 61 males, 59 females), and from 38 young controls (YC; mean age 30 years; 20 males, 18 females). We measured the blood platelet indexes using an automated counter, as well as plasma D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) using ELISA. The AA patients were divided into two groups, group A (platelet count more than 150 x 10(9)/I, n = 36) and group B (platelet count below 150 x 10(9)/I, n = 18). There was no difference in the platelet count between AC and YC. However, P-LCR was significantly higher (p = 0.0113) in AC. MPV and PDW were also higher, but not significantly so. The platelet count was not different between group A and AC. MPV (p = 0.0024 and < 0.0001, respectively), P-LCR (p < 0.0012 and < 0.0001, respectively) and PDW (p = 0.0006 and 0.0005, respectively) were significantly lower in group A than in group B and AC. The platelet indexes were significantly lower in the 54 AA patients than in the AC. There were significant inverse relationships between the platelet count and other indexes in the AC and 54 AA patients; however, no relationships were observed in group A, B and YC. The D-dimer and TAT levels were significantly higher in group B than in groups A and YC. In conclusion, these findings suggest that large platelets decrease rather than increase in patients with AA. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.