Is mean platelet volume a predictor of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients?

Abstract

Aim: Cardiovascular (CV) mortality accounts for the 45% of all mortality in dialysis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a preclinical marker for CV disease. Activated platelets pose important part of the cellular component in the pathophysiology of atherothrombosis. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a parameter that indicates the activation of platelets and assessed by studies in various patient groups in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to determine the relation of MPV with CIMT in haemodialysis (HD) patients without a history of atherosclerosis. Material and Methods: Eighty two HD patients and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Ultrasonographical B-mode imaging of bilateral carotid arteries was performed with a high resolution real-time ultrasonography with 12MHz linearassay transducer (Mindray DC7). The value was expressed as an average of the maximal CIMT. MPV was measured by automated devices. Results: CIMT was found to be higher in study population when compared to control group. MPV was not different between groups (8.40±0.85 vs 8.4±0.81; P>0.05). In correlation analysis CIMT was found to be positively correlated with age(r=0.326; P=0.003), ALP(r=0.309; P=0.005) and MPV(r=0.26; p= 0,017). Patients were grouped according to median levels of MPV. The patients having higher MPV values were found to have higher PTH (533.9 ± 458.3 vs 845.8 ± 860.2; P<0, 05) and CIMT (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.9 ± 0.2; P<0. 05) values. Conclusions: MPV was found to be correlated with CIMT in HD patients. MPV can be used as a marker in HD patients for determining atherosclerosis.