title: Mean platelet volume as a risk stratification tool in the emergency department for evaluating patients with ischaemic stroke and TIA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the variations of mean platelet volume in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular complaints, and to find out its diagnostic utility in an acute setting to help risk stratification in patients with ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from November 2009 to June 2010. It comprised 143 consecutive patients of acute ischaemic stroke, 39 patients of transient ischaemic attacks and 60 healthy volunteers. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis, and so were t-test, one-way analysis of variance test and correlation analysis. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean platelet volume results were significantly higher in patients with cortical infarction and transient ischaemic attack compared to the control group (p < 0.001 and p <0.002). A statistically significant increase was also noted in hospitalised patients when compared with discharged patients from the emergency department (p < 0.036). A weak positive correlation was identified between the National Institute of Health Stroke Scores and mean platelet volume levels (r = 0.207; p < 0.001). A significant relationship was identified between mean platelet volume levels and previous stroke (p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of mean platelet volume levels may provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information to emergency physicians caring for patients with transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke. In patients with suspected neurological ischaemic symptoms, high levels may be considered as an atherosclerotic risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Etlik Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. nurettinozgurdogan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nurettin Ozgür
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksel
authors.forename: Sertaç
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demircan
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bildik
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiliçaslan
authors.forename: Kanber
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karakurt
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048429:Cell Size; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology