Diagnostic importance of platelet parameters in patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to a tertiary care hospital in southwest region, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is important for both diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Abnormal platelet parameters, mainly platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are thought to be among these risk factors. In this study, the associations between PC, MPV and PDW and ACS were investigated in patients admitted to the tertiary care hospital in the south west region of Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 212 patients with the diagnosis of ACS admitted to Aseer Central Hospital during the period extending from February 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008 were included. The control group consisted of 49 matched subjects who were admitted for chest pain investigation and subsequently found to be non-cardiac chest pain after performing relevant investigations. Blood samples were taken at the time of admission for platelet parameters. Statistical analysis was made using SPSS software and P-values were considered significant if <0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 212 patients with acute coronary syndrome (80 patients with MI and 132 patients with UA) and 49 matched controls were studied. The PC was not statistically different among the three groups (283.3 ± 94.8 × 10(9) L(-1) for MI cases, 262 ± 60.8 × 10(9) L(-1) for UA cases and 275.8 ± 58.9 × 10(9) L(-1) for controls). The MPV was significantly larger in MI cases compared to controls (8.99 ± 1.5 fl vs. 8.38 ± 0.51 fl, respectively, P < 0.009), similarly, the MPV was significantly larger in UA cases compared to controls (9.23 ± 1.19 fl vs. 8.38 ± 0.51 fl, respectively, P < 0.001). The PDW was significantly higher in MI cases compared to controls (15.88 ± 1.5 fl vs. 11.96 ± 1.8 fl, respectively, P < 0.001), similarly, the PDW as also significantly larger in UA cases compared to controls (18.1 ± 18 fl vs. 11.96 ± 1.8 fl, respectively, P < 0.019).

CONCLUSION: Platelet parameters mainly MPV and PDW are readily available and relatively simple and inexpensive laboratory tests which we detected to be significantly raised in patients who have suffered an acute coronary syndrome compared with controls.