title: [Does menopause affect thrombocytopoiesis and platelet activation?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menopause has been postulated to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. We try to analyse wheather lack of estrogens in postmenopausal women (without oestrogen replacement therapy) can change any of the platelet parameters. In the current study, blood samples of healthy woman before (group K) and after menopause (group Km) were analysed with respect to platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), large platelet count (LPLT), percentage of reticulated platelets (RP), absolute count of reticulated platelets (BLR) and plasma levels of thrombopoietin (TPO) and beta-thromboglobulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean platelet count in group Km (230.12 +/- 49.5 x 10(9)/l) was significantly lower than in group K (252.35 +/- 41.25 x 10((9)/l, p = 0.025). Percentage of reticulated platelet in group Km (1.35 +/- 0.4%) was higher than in group K (1.13 +/- 0.47%, p = 0.02). Also P-TG concentration in group Km (245.64 +/- 29.55 IUI ml) was significantly higher (p = 0.02) than in group K (221.79 +/- 42.20 IU/ml). The MPV, LPLT, TPO and BLR values were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower platelet count in woman after menopause than in young woman probably was a result of a decreased concentration of estrogens. Higher percentage of reticulated platelet in group of woman after menopause than in the group before menopause suggests that it is a more sensitive parameter of thrombocytopoiesis than others. Higher beta-thromboglobulin level confirms platelet activation in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Laboratoryjnej Diagnostyki Klinicznej, Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku. annabutkiewicz@wp.pl
authors.forename: Anna Maria
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
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010976:Platelet Count; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D013926:Thrombopoietin