The effect of subclinical hypothyroidism on platelet parameters.
BACKGROUND
Hypothyroidism has a broad clinical spectrum. Today, physicians frequently encounter patients with very mild thyroid dysfunction instead of overt hypothyroidism. These patients have normal serum levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine and only mildly elevated serum thyrotropin levels. Such patients are often identified through routine screening or in the course of an evaluation of common nonspecific symptoms. On the other hand, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. There are studies, which suggest platelets play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to compare the platelet count and other platelet parameters in subclinical hypothyroidic and euthyroidic healthy control group and to investigate whether these parameters have a predictive significance in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 30 euthyroidic healthy control group were enrolled into the study.


RESULTS
Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had higher mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) values than control group, which were statistically significant (p<0.001 and p<0.001), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that MPV and PDW play an important predictive role in subclinical hypothyroidism.
Erikci
Alev Akyol
AA
Department of Hematology and Oncology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. aleverikci@yahoo.com
Karagoz
Bulent
B
Ozturk
Ahmet
A
Caglayan
Sinan
S
Ozisik
Gokhan
G
Kaygusuz
Isik
I
Ozata
Metin
M
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D013963:Thyroid Hormones