Platelet count, mean platelet volume and smoking status in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an increasing global health problem, may be complicated by acute atherothrombotic events. Although systemic inflammation plays the leading role in atherothrombotic processes, platelet activation and increased coagulation together with oxidative stress can significantly exacerbate atherosclerosis in COPD patients. In this study we determined platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and classical markers of systemic inflammation - serum C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count and the relative proportion of segmented neutrophils in COPD patients, and compared them to those from the healthy controls. The most important and novel finding of this study was that patients with COPD had a significantly increased platelet count, along with a reduced MPV when compared to healthy controls (286 vs. 260 × 10(9)/l; 9.6 vs. 8.7 fL, respectively). Cigarette smoking had no influence on these results. The presence of systemic inflammation was clearly proved by the increase in classical inflammatory markers (CRP, WBC and segmented neutrophil count).

The Role of Mean Platelet Volume in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation

“…19 A number of studies have demonstrated that subjects with COPD have an increased platelet count and also increased platelet ac- CRP ϭ C-reactive protein WBC ϭ white blood cell MPV ϭ mean platelet volume tivation in stable disease and further in the exacerbation period. 8,20 However, this platelet activation can follow different patterns as to mean platelet volume values in various diseases. In particular, in diseases with low-grade chronic inflammation that predisposes to thrombosis, such as cardiovascular disease or atherosclerosis (tendency to hypercoagulability), mean platelet volume levels are increased.…”

“…Indeed, there are various studies that show a disturbance of mean platelet volume levels in subjects with stable COPD. 8,9 However, the association of mean platelet volume with COPD exacerbation has not yet been adequately evaluated. In recent years, there have been only limited studies evaluating this issue with controversial results.…”

Mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in anemia

“…Although increased endogenous erythropoietin may play a role in thrombocytosis, mechanism of platelet production in irondeficiency induced thrombocytosis is yet to be fully understood and relevant platelet indices are not fully evaluated [5]. Recently, mean platelet volume (MPV) has been suggested as a useful platelet index for platelet function and activation [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Also, MPV/platelet count ratio has been proposed as a new parameter for the prediction of long-term mortality in patients with myocardial infarction [9].…”

Other inflammatory markers should be kept in mind when assessing the mean platelet volume

“…Previous study has shown that MPV showed significant differences in patients with hepatic diseases [13]. On the other hand, MPV value was higher in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients compare with those of the control group [14,15]. Therefore, if the authors gave information about hepatic function tests and respiratory condition, the results of the present study may be different and stronger.…”