Evaluation of mean platelet volume and platelet count in ischemic stroke and its subtypes: focus on degree of disability and thrombus formation.

Background: Platelets are crucial players in thrombus formation during ischemic stroke. Platelet (PLT) count and Mean platelet volume (MPV) are important parameters that affect platelet functions. The current study has been carried out with an aim to evaluate the association of MPV and PLT count with ischemic stroke in a population from the Malwa region of Punjab. Material and Methods: The study included one hundred and fifty ischemic stroke patients. The extent of disability occurs by stroke was measured by mRS. MPV and PLT was evaluated using cell counter. Further, PLT count was confirmed in 50% of patients using flow cytometer. Clot formation rate was evaluated using Sonoclot Coagulation and Platelet Function Analyzer. All the statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. Results: A significant association of increased MPV ( p  < 0.02) was found with the ischemic stroke. However, PLT count did not show a significant association with the disease ( p  < 0.07). Further, a stepwise multiple logistic regression (MLR) analysis controlling the other confounding risk factors evaluated the association of hypertension and MPV with the disease. Patients with higher mRS were found to have high MPV values confirming that higher MPV is correlated with disability occurs by ischemic stroke. MPV was also found to be significantly associated with large artery atherosclerosis ( p  < 0.001). Clot formation analysis revealed that ischemic stroke patients bear higher clot rate (CR) and Platelet function (PF) values. Conclusions: Elevated MPV is an independent risk factor for Ischemic stroke along with hypertension. In addition, higher MPV associated significantly with stroke disability as well.