Association between mean platelet volume and autonomic nervous system functions: Increased mean platelet volume reflects sympathetic overactivity

BACKGROUND:

Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) may reflect increased platelet activation or increased numbers of large, hyperaggregable platelets, and is accepted as an independent coronary risk factor. The adrenergic system has effects on platelet activation and thrombocytopoiesis.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the effects of autonomic nervous system activity on MPV in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Forty-seven patients with acute anterior MI were compared with 32 patients with healthy coronary arteries. All patients underwent heart rate (HR) variability analysis using 24 h Holter monitoring. Blood samples were taken for MPV measurements twice a day (day- and nighttime) during Holter monitoring. Mean HR, low frequency band of HR variability power spectrum to high frequency band of HR variability power spectrum (LF:HF) ratio, LF and MPV were higher in patients with anterior MI than in the control group. SD of all NN (RR) intervals, root mean square of successive differences, number of NN intervals that differed by more than 50 ms from the adjacent interval divided by the total number of all NN intervals, HF bands and platelet counts were lower in the patients with anterior MI than in the control group. Daytime LF bands, LF:HF ratio and MPV were significantly higher, and HF bands were significantly lower than the nighttime values for both groups. The differences in daytime and nighttime measurements were more significant in the patients with acute MI than in the control group. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that MPV was positively correlated with ventricle score, degree of left anterior descending artery stenosis, mean HR, LF bands and LF:HF ratio; and negatively correlated with the SD of all NN intervals, HF bands and platelet count. Multivariate analysis revealed that MPV was significantly affected by ventricle score and the LF:HF ratio.

CONCLUSIONS:

MPV was significantly higher in the patients with acute MI. In both groups, MPV showed great daytime and nighttime variation, which can be attributed to alterations in the autonomic nervous system. The authors suggest that the prognostic role of increased MPV in patients with acute MI is closely associated with increased sympathetic activity and decreased HR variability.