Publication:

Mean platelet volume in acute ischemic stroke: a hospital based cross sectional study

Background Platelet activation is a key mechanism underlying acute ischaemic stroke. Mean platelet volume (MPV), routinely reported in complete blood counts, reflects platelet size and functional activity and has been proposed as a marker of thrombotic tendency.

Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled adults with neuroimaging-confirmed acute ischaemic stroke admitted to a district hospital in Karnataka, India. Clinical characteristics, vascular risk factors, laboratory indices including MPV, and stroke severity measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were documented and analysed.

Results Among 134 patients studied, males accounted for 89 (66.4%), and the largest age group was 56-65 years, 51 (38.1%). Hypertension was present in 101 (75.4%), diabetes mellitus in 80 (59.7%), smoking in 60 (44.8%), alcohol use in 54 (40.3%), and coronary artery disease in 48 (35.8%). MPV values were significantly elevated in patients with these risk factors and showed a positive correlation with NIHSS score.

Conclusions Increased MPV is associated with acute ischaemic stroke and with greater neurological severity. MPV may be a simple and economical adjunct marker for early risk stratification.