Plasma viscosity and mean platelet volume in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
BACKGROUND
Markers of platelet activation and haemorrheological indices have been demonstrated to play a role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. In this study, we aimed at investigate the association between plasma viscosity and platelet indices in patients undergoing coronary angiography.


METHODS
Three hundred and eighty four consecutive patients scheduled to undergo coronary angiography were included in the study. Prior to coronary angiography, blood samples were withdrawn to determine routine biochemical markers, blood cell analyses and viscosity measurements. According to the results of coronary angiography, patients were classified either in a subgroup with coronary artery disease (CAD; 1 or more stenoses >50%) or normal coronary arteries (NCA; no stenoses or <50%).


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant correlation between plasma viscosity and mean platelet volume levels in all patients undergoing coronary angiography (r=0.199, p<0.001). Additionally, when correlation analysis was performed within each group, plasma viscosity significantly correlated with MPV both in patients with CAD (r=0.18, p=0.004) and in patients with NCAs (r=0.272, p=0.002). Linear regression analysis revealed that plasma viscosity was positively associated with MPV while platelet number was inversely but significantly associated with MPV.


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown for the first time that MPV correlates with plasma viscosity in patients undergoing coronary angiography, suggesting a relation with plasma proteins and activation of circulating platelets or peripheral consumption of platelets. To evaluate this relation further controlled studies also in patients with acute coronary syndromes are warranted.
Department of Cardiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University Faculty of Medicine, Bolu, Turkey.
Kubilay
K
Senen
Ergun
E
Topal
Evren
E
Kilinc
Hugo
H
ten Cate
Ibrahim
I
Tek
Yunus
Y
Karakoc
Ertan
E
Yetkin
D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D048429:Cell Size; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count