Lavanya Rajagopal1 , Yuri Gagarin Paramasivam2
BACKGROUND Hypertension alone or in various combinations has been a major risk factor in ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes. The mean platelet volume is a laboratory marker associated with platelet function and activity. Mean platelet volume is independently associated with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and uncontrolled hypertension. We wanted to study the associated MPV levels in different grades (Grade I and Grade III) of hypertension in comparison with those of healthy normotensives. METHODS The current study was an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted in Velammal Medical College Hospital, Madurai, India, from October 2019 to December 2019. Patients with grade 1 and grade 3 hypertension as cases, and healthy individuals as controls were included in the study. Platelet parameters were assessed by the Beckman Colter haematology analyser (LH 750) by impendence technology. ANOVA was used to assess statistical significance. p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. IBM SPSS version 22 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Among the study population, 200 (57.14%) participants were controls, 100 (28.57%) participants were graded as 1 HT and 50 (14.29%) participants were grade as 3 HT. The Mean MPV (fL) among controls was 7.63 ± 1.13; it was 8.04 ± 0.91 in grade 1 HT group, and it was 10.05 ± 0.73 in grade 3 HT group and was statistically significant. The mean platelet count (1000 cells /cu. mm) among controls was 256.96 ± 62.78; it was 290.96 ± 79.77 in the grade 1 HT group and it was 295.68 ± 60.55 in grade 3 HT group and was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that MPV levels and platelet counts were increased with increasing severity of hypertension. MPV, as an important indicator of platelet activation can be used as a cost-effective diagnostic tool to identify hypertensive patients who are at increased risk for thrombotic vascular complications.
