Utility of Platelet Indices in Assessing the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients of Diabetes Mellitus

Background : Platelet volume indices (PVI) such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), are the indicators of increased platelet activity which may play a role in development of vascular complications in diabetic patients. This study was performed to evaluate and compare the platelet volume indices such as MPV, PDW, P-LCR in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without manifested coronary artery disease in order to identify their usefulness in determining the risk for development of coronary complications. Methods : Analytical cross - sectional study included 150 patients of which 100 patients were diagnosed as type 2 DM and 50 apparently healthy controls. The study cases were divided into two groups based on presence or absence of coronary artery disease. Group A included 50 cases of type 2 DM without manifested coronary artery disease and group B included 50 cases of type 2 DM with manifested coronary artery disease. PVI was obtained using automated cell counter. Results: MPV, PDW, P-LCR were significantly higher in diabetics as compared to controls subjects (P < 0.001 for all). However, no statistically significant difference was found between diabetics with and without manifested coronary artery disease. Conclusions: The study showed higher PVI in diabetic subjects when compared to control subjects, but no difference between patients with and without manifested coronary artery disease suggesting that various other factors might be associated with the pathogenesis of CAD in patients of DM.