A Prospective Study of Role of Mean Platelet Volume in Predicting Stroke Type and its Severity

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has emerged as an important laboratory marker which is associated with platelet function and activity. Increased MPV in thromboembolic disease is reflected as an important risk factor. Aims and Objective: To evaluate MPV in stroke patients with clinical presentation, risk factors and stroke sub type. Materials and Methods: Hundred stroke patients (Case group) were compared with 100 healthy subjects (Control group) at JA group of Hospital, Gwalior between 2016 to 2017. After a thorough clinical examination all patients were subjected to complete blood count and mean platelet volume estimation. CT scan was done for finding the stroke subtype. Stroke severity was assessed using modified Rankin score. Results: Male preponderance (61% in control and 59% in cases) was observed in both the groups. MPV between cases and control with risk factors of stroke including age, gender, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus was comparable (p>0.05). MPV was significantly higher in patients with previous stroke history compared to patients with no history (p<0.001). MPV in cases was higher (12.332.36 FL) compared to control group (10.851.44 FL) (p<0.001). MPV in patients with ischemic stroke (12.712.22 FL) was higher compared to haemorrhagic stroke (11.132.33 FL) (p=0.002). Conclusion: MPV is independent of age, sex, smoking status, systemic hypertension and diabetes mellitus in stroke patients. MPV was higher in ischemic stroke patients compared to haemorrhagic stroke. MPV might act as an additional tool to identify people at high risk.