Study of platelet indices in hyperlipidemia

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition n resulting from hyperlipidemia and involves platelet mediated recruitment of white blood cells to arteries. The platelet activation is measured indirectly through several platelet indices routinely available without any additional cost in newer fully automated haematology analysers. These indices include platelet count, mean platelet volume(MPV), platelet distribution width(PDW), plateletcrit(PCT), mean platelet(component) concentration (MPC), mean platelet dry mass (MPM), platelet large cell count and platelet large cell ratio (PLCR).. The present study was undertaken in the pathology department of our diagnostic centre to find an association between platelet indices reported by Advia 2120(Siemens) fully automated haematology analyser and hyperlipidemia. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study carried out in our diagnostic centre from April to July 2018. 100 patients with hyperlipidemia without any associated diseases and 100 controls with normal lipid profile were included in the study. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson's correlation test and data was expressed as mean ±SD for each parameter. A p value of < 0> Results: Maximum number of patients were in 41-60 years of age (65%). The male to female ratio was 1.7: 1 with 63% males and 37% females. The mean cholesterol ,mean triglyceride and mean HDL cholesterol level in study group was 218.6±36.3, 244.3±154,38.7±9.6 respectively and 158±26.8 ,94.1±34.8,and 42.1±9.3 in control group respectively. Mean LDL cholesterol was 131.1±39.4 in study group and 97.1±25.2 in control group. There was a significant difference in platelet counts in both groups with a p value of 0.01. PCT and MPC also showed a p value of 0.004. The mean platelet mass (MPM) was 2.17±0.2 in study group as compared to 2.13±021 in control group. Large platelet count was 7.09±4.9 in study group while it was 5.95±3.81 in control group which was also significantly different. Conclusion: Our study indicates that PCT, MPM large platelets and platelet count are significantly higher in hyperlipidemia patients.These indices are available without any additional cost to clinicians, pathologists and patients and can be used to assess the risk associated with hyperlipidemia.