title: Effects of high altitude and sea level on mean platelet volume and platelet count in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: A relationship exists between exposure to high altitude and increased coagulability. Mean platelet volume is a parameter of platelet functions and may be a marker for increased platelet aggregability. The aim of this study was to compare the mean platelet volumes and platelet counts in patients who experienced an acute coronary event at moderately high altitude and at sea altitude. Four hundred and one patients who experienced an acute coronary event were enrolled, of them 211 were born and had been living at the sea level, while 190 were born and had been living at high altitude (at least 2,000 m above the sea level). Patients were compared regarding the mean platelet volumes and platelet counts. The mean platelet volumes were significantly higher in patients living in high altitude (P = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found among the groups regarding the platelet counts. As a result, this increased MPV values in highlanders who experienced an acute coronary event may reflect increased platelet aggregability.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Center, Ali Riza Cevik sok. orkide apt. D:9, No:17 Idealtepe/Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey. draalper@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmet Taha
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Alper
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sevimli
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasdemir
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nurkalem
authors.forename: Tolga Sinan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Güvenç
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Nazmiye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Gündüz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Durmuş
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gürkan
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000209:etiology