title: Platelet count, mean platelet volume and thrombocytopoietic indices in healthy women and men.
abstract: Gender-dependent differences in platelet count have been demonstrated in few studies. In women platelet count is higher than in men, which seems to reflect different hormonal profiles or a compensatory mechanism associated with menstrual blood loss. The aim of the study was to assess platelet count, mean platelet volume and thrombocytopoietic indices in women and men. The study was conducted on healthy blood donors divided into groups: F - 60 women and M - 65 men. Platelet count and mean platelet volume were determined on a haematological analyser Advia 120, Bayer. The following thrombocytopoietic indices were measured: thrombopoietin concentration (ELISA), percentage of reticulated platelets (flow cytometry, COULTER EPICS XL) and absolute reticulated platelet count.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher platelet count was noted in the group of women 252.35 +/- 41.25 x 10(9)/l as compared to men 221.87 +/- 37.63 x 10(9)/l (p = 0.0002). At the same time women had lower thrombopoietin concentration 156.50 +/- 57.18 pg/ml compared to men 180.46 +/- 60.98 pg/ml, (p = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were found in the mean platelet volume, percentage of reticulated platelets or absolute reticulated platelet count between group F and M.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet count is gender-dependent, being higher in women than in men. Thrombopoietin concentration is gender-dependent and is lower in women than in men. In physiological conditions, there is no correlation between platelet count and thrombopoietin concentration in women (r = -0.155) and men (r = -0.2586).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. annabutkiewicz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Butkiewicz
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kemona
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dymicka-Piekarska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matowicka-Karna
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Radziwon
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D012737:Sex Factors; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013926:Thrombopoietin