Objective: The mean platelet volume (MPV), the accurate measure of platelet size, has been considered a marker and determinant of platelet function. Larger platelets have more granules, aggregate more rapidly with collagen, have higher thromboxane A2 levels and express more glycoprotein Ib and IIb/IIIa receptors than smaller platelets. Accumulating data has shown that elevated MPV is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and MPV can be a potentially useful prognostic biomarker in patients with cardiovascular disease. The aim of present study is to investigate MPV with PD and healthy subjects. It was hypothesized that with panic disorder (PD) MPV levels have elevated, compared to healthy controls. To our knowledge, this is the first study of investigating the levels of MPV in PD.
Methods: Thirty-seven drug-free subjects, aged 18-60, who were diagnosed as having panic disorder according to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) criteria were included in this study. Forty-five mentally and physically healthy subjects that had similar socio-demographic characteristics were included in the study as a control group. Height, weight, platelet count and MPV were measured and recorded for each subject.
Results: No significant difference was found in the female/male ratio, age, BMI between PD group and control group respect (p=0.914, p=0.791, p=0.968). The MPV was found to be significantly increased in PD group compared to control group (9.2±0.8 vs. 8.8±0.9 fL; p=0.016). There was no significant difference in PLT and BMI between groups (both p value >0.05).
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the levels of MPV and PLT in PD. MPV is considered to be an indicator of platelet activation, and to be important in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease (CHD). The findings of present study indicate that PD might have increased levels of MPV in the absence of related factors, such as elevated blood pressure or HT, hypercholesterolemia and obesity.