Effect of mean platelet volume on mortality and morbidity in patient with non-ST elevated myocardial infarction

Mortality and morbidity rates are considered, coronary artery disease is the most important diseases in the United States and other industrialized countries. Still it takes first place among all causes of death. In Turkey, according to recent data of TEKHARF study in 2009, approximately 3,1 million people are estimated to suffer coronary artery disease. The mortality rate of coronary artery disease is 0.5% in men, 0.3% in women in Turkey. Reduction of risk factors is the most important clinical approach to reduce morbidity and mortality of coronary artery disease. The major risk factors for coronary artery disease are hyperlipidemia, hypertension, family history, gender, smoking and diabetes mellitus. Recently some clues were found about mean platelet volume as a risk factor of coronary atery disease. Large platelets have an increased thrombotic potential due to high level secreted procoagulator surface proteins such as P-selectin and glycoprotein IIIa.In this study, the effect of the mean platelet volume on mortality and morbidity were evaluated in patients with non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction. 170 patients (67 women) with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 179 controls (70 women) were included in the study. Mean platelet volume, platelet and white blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were measured in the blood samples which were collected from patients.Non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction patients than the control group were significantly higher mean platelet volume values. Mean platelet volume was found to be significantly higher in the non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction group with cardiac mortality and morbidity in hospital period and at the end of the first two years.Keywords; Coronary artery disease, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, mean platelet volume, mortality and morbidity.