A study of platelet indices in acute ischemic stroke and its correlation with stroke severity and carotid doppler studies

Background. Platelets are an important linkage between inammation, thrombosis and atherogenesis. Platelet indices are markers of platelet function and activation. Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been identied as an independent predictor of the risk of stroke among high-risk individuals with a prior cerebrovascular disease history. Platelet indices may interpret the net pathophysiological effects of a number of cerebrovascular disease risk factors and therefore represents as a broad biomarker of risk of stroke and carotid atherosclerosis. Platelet indices panel is easily available in hemogram and hence can be used with cost effectiveness. Very few studies have looked into this association especially in south Indian population. Aims and objectives: To study the association between platelet indices and acute ischemic stroke and its correlation with clinical severity and carotid doppler studies in south Indian population. Methodology: This Case control study was done in the Institute of neurology of madras medical college. Case group consisted of 152 willing consecutive patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke. Patient with comorbidities likely to interfere with platelet function or morphology were excluded from the study. The control group consisted of age and sex matched 152 controls. Detailed history taking, Modied Rankin score, clinical examination and CT/MRI imaging done. Carotid artery Doppler study was used to measure the carotid intima media thickness. Results and conclusions: From our study we concluded that MPVand platelet count is higher in patients with acute Ischemic stroke and it correlates with its clinical severity. By ROC curve analysis, when MPV level was taken as 11.3 femtoliter, a sensitivity of 80.3% and specicity of 80.3% were found in risk stratication of stroke. There was no association between platelet indices and carotid intimal median thickness