Yonsei Med J.  2023 Jan;64(1):35-41. 10.3349/ymj.2022.0368.

High Mean Platelet Volume Is Associated with Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities in Non-Stroke Individuals

• Choi JW
• Lee KO
• Jang YJ
• Kim HK
• Seo T
• Roh YJ
• Choo SO
• Oh SH

• KMID: 2537192
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2022.0368

Abstract

Purpose
The mean platelet volume (MPV) is regarded as a marker for thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and inflammation in various vascular diseases. However, it still remains unclear whether plasma MPV is associated with cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microvascular pathology in the elderly population.
Materials and Methods
We examined whether MPV level is associated with the presence of cerebral WMH on brain magnetic resonance imaging from 870 non-stroke outpatient subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the consecutive level of MPV (low T1, middle T2, and high T3 MPV tertile groups). To determine the association of MPV levels with the WMH, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted.
Results
Subjects with higher MPV level were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and low renal function. Cerebral WMH were more prevalent in subjects with higher MPV level. After adjusting for confounding factors, moderate to severe cerebral WMH were significantly associated with high MPV tertile level. This association remained significant after adjusting for other cerebral vascular pathologies. T2 [odds ratio (OR): 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.15] and T3 MPV tertile groups (OR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.04–2.20) had more cerebral WMH lesions compared to T1 MPV tertile group. In addition, the subjects with higher Fazekas scores showed higher MPV level (p=0.020).
Conclusion
We found that high MPV level is independently associated with cerebral WMH. This result suggests that platelet activation plays a role in the development of cerebral WMH.

Keyword

Mean platelet volume; atherosclerosis; white matter hyperintensities; platelet activation