Platelet count and MPV, routinely measured but ignored parameters used in conjunction with the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome: single study center in Iranian population, 2010

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Platelet count and the mean platelet volume (MPV), a simple and reliable indicator of platelet size which correlates with platelet activation, might associate with troponin in acute chest pain. METHODS: We analyzed MPV of 851 patients who were admitted to Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital with acute chest pain during the year 2010. Two blood samples were taken from each patient within 4 hours of their arrival for routine hematology, including platelet count and MPV, and cardiac troponin T. Also, electrocardiograms of the patients were recorded. Association of MPV and platelet count with troponin was observed. RESULTS: The patients in troponin positive group, who had also ischemic electrocardiographic changes, had higher MPV values than non- acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with normal cardiac troponin T levels (9.9 vs 9.5 fl with p< 0.001). In troponin negative group, the mean of platelet count was higher than that in the positive group (221683 vs 198814/µl with p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: MPV and platelet count are inexpensive laboratory tests which can be measured in association with other laboratory biomarkers in patients presenting with acute chest pain. This could help to lower hospitalization rates and also avoid misdiagnosis and having complications of patients with ACS.