title: Mean platelet volume is associated with aortic intima-media thickness in patients without clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mean platelet volume (MPV) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. Thoracic aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) was reported as an earlier marker of preclinical atherosclerosis than carotid IMT. However, the relationship between MPV and aortic IMT was not investigated. We aimed to assess the relationship between thoracic aortic IMT and MPV in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination for different indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 190 patients (mean age 37.0±12.5 years) who underwent TEE for different indications. The patients who have known atherosclerotic disease were excluded from study. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median thoracic aortic IMT values (IMTlow group ≤13 mm and IMThigh group >13 mm). Platelet count and MPV were analyzed with an automated hematology analyzer. A multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to identify the independent associations of thoracic aortic IMT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest MPV values were observed in the IMThigh group compared with the IMTlow group (9.5±10 fL vs. 10.9±1.2 fL, p<0.001). Also, the IMThigh group had higher age, hs-CRP, and uric acid levels (p<0.05 for all). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that aortic IMT was independently related with age (β=0.340, p<0.001), uric acid (β=0.111, p=0.041), hs-CRP (β=0.200, p<0.001), and MPV (β=0.482, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPV is independently related to the extent of subclinical thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. Increases in MPV may be a crucial biochemical marker for initial atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiology, Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital; Adana-Turkey. gulhankalkan@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Gülhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yüksel Kalkan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gür
authors.forename: Ahmet Oytun
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Baykan
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uçar
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Elbasan
authors.forename: Durmuş Yıldıray
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Şahin
authors.forename: Mevlüt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koç
authors.forename: Abdülrezzak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Börekçi
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çaylı
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D012307:Risk Factors