Original paper
Changes of platelet volume, treatment effects and influence on prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated invasively

Introduction: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a quick and simple method of measuring thrombocytes’ activity.

Aim: The evaluation of MPV’s variability in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) depending on a type of antiplatelet therapy and influence of this parameter on long-term mortality.

Material and methods: We enrolled 110 patients with AMI who underwent coronary angioplasty (PCI). The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the antiplatelet treatment. The I group was treated with GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, the II was the reference group. Every patient had 3 measurements of morphology: after admission, after PCI and on the fourth day. The follow-up lasted 3.5-years.

Results: The mean age (n = 110) was 69.3 ±11 years. In the I group patients had more STEMI (16 (88.9%) vs. 56 (60.9%); p = 0.022), had longer hospital stay (11.6 ±9.3 vs. 6.9 ±4.3; p = 0.001). In whole population was a trend to decrease MPV values during hospital treatment, especially between first and the last measurement (10.23 ±1.34 fl vs. 9.88 ±1.39 fl; p = 0.058). Mostly in the fourth day

of observation there were differences between both groups in MPV values (9.15 ±1.25 fl in I group vs. 10.02 ±1.38 fl. in II group;

p = 0.014). In patients treated with triple antiplatelet therapy MPV values decreased during hospitalization (MPV1: 10.13 ±1.43 fl vs. MPV3: 9.15 ±1.25 fl; p = 0.034). During 3.5-years there were 28 (25.45%) deaths. A long-term mortality was comparable in both groups (6 (33.3%) vs. 22 (23.9%), p = 0.4).

Conclusions: Use of abciximab in AMI causes a decrease of MPV values during hospitalization. The evaluation of MPV variability helps us to check antiplatelet therapy efficiency.