Relationship Between Mean Platelet Volume and Early Phase Complications in Acute Myocardial Infarction

It is known that platelets play an important role in the patogenesis and natural history of acute myocardial infaretion (AMI). In this study, we investigated the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and early phase complications in AMI. The MPV were measured in 213 patients with AMI (163 males, 50 females, mean age: 56.7±1 1.2 years) being admitted within 24 hours after onset of chest pain on admission, on the second and fifth days of infarction. Age- and sex-matched 70 healthy volunteers were taken as controls. The patients were divided into two groups as uncomplicated (group I, n= 131) and complicated ca ses (group II, n=82). Additionally, group II was subdivided into 4 subgroups: group Ila (recurrent angina-reinfarction, n=24) , group Ilb (severe heart fai lure-cardiogenic shock, n=41), group Ilc (severe arrhythmias, n=34) and group Ild (deceased, n=9). Both in group I and Il, the MPV was significantly higher than in the control group (p0.05). In conclusion, MPV increases in early phase of AMI. The high MPV measured on admission is related to increased frequency of recurrent angina-reinfarction and severe arrhythmia. We conclude that high MPV in AMI on admission may be a marker for recurrent ischaemic heart events and severe arrhythmia developing in the early phase of AMI.