As a result, we found no correlation between platelet aggregation responses obtained with optical method and platelet indices proposed as indicators of certain pathologic conditions, and it does not seem possible to use platelet indices as a direct indicator of platelet activation. In conditions where platelet functions should have been assessed, platelet indices alone are inappropriate and further evaluation is necessary with different methods.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition observed during pregnancy and threatens the life of both mother and foetus. There are studies, which suggest platelets play a major role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. The aim of this study is to compare the complete blood count (CBC) parameters, especially platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV), in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnant women and to evaluate whether these parameters have a prognostic significance in determining the severity of eclampsia. The study and control groups consist of 56 pre-eclamptic and 43 normal pregnant women, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference according to CBC, platelet count and MPV when pre-eclamptic and severely pre-eclamptic patients were compared with controls. As a result, we observed no prognostic significance of CBC, platelet count and MPV on the presence and/or severity of pre-eclamptic condition. There are conflicting results especially on the significance of MPV in the literature, and possibly this confliction is due to the difference between methods and/or equipments used for automated blood count.

Total body iron status and hemoglobin A(2) level should be obtained for accurate differential diagnosis of IDA and B-TT until more efficient tools develop.

Levosimendan enhances cardiac contractility by increasing myocyte sensitivity to calcium, and induces vasodilatation. Although studies have evaluated the efficacy of levosimendan in heart failure, it is not clear whether it might produce functional influence on platelet response. In this study, the effect of levosimendan on platelet aggregation was investigated. Platelet function tests were performed in 12 healthy male volunteers. Three concentrations of levosimendan solution were prepared that would result in 10, 25, and 45 ng/ ml levosimendan concentrations in the blood similar to that observed after clinical therapeutic intravenous application of 0.05-0.1 lg/kg/min. Each concentration of levosimendan solution and a control diluent without levosimendan were incubated with whole blood at 378C. After incubation for 15 min, aggregation responses were evaluated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (5 and 10 lM) and collagen (2 and 5 lg/ml) in platelet-rich plasma. Preincubation with all dilutions of levosimendan inhibited aggregation of platelets induced by ADP and collagen significantly. Levosimendan also inhibited significantly the secondary wave of platelet aggregation induced by ADP. The results showed that there was a relationship between levosimendan concentration and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In conclusion, this study with an in vitro model showed that levosimendan had a significant inhibitory effect on platelets in clinically relevant doses. Am. J. Hematol. 83:46-49, 2008. V

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