Association between platelet indices and VCAM-1 levels in patients with coronary artery disease

Background Routine platelet indices reflect platelet size and turnover, whereas soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) reflects endothelial activation. Whether these inexpensive indices relate to circulating VCAM-1 in coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Objective To evaluate the association between platelet indices and sVCAM-1 in patients with CAD. Methods This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 80 patients with stable, angiographically confirmed CAD (>50% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery) at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia. Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) and large-platelet count were measured with a Sysmex XN-1000 analyser, and serum sVCAM-1 by sandwich ELISA (Elabscience). Spearman correlation and multivariable linear regression were used. Results Platelet count (ρ = 0.24, p = 0.036) and large-platelet count (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.002) were weakly correlated with sVCAM-1 (344.23 ± 144.98 ng/mL), whereas MPV (ρ = 0.10, p = 0.387) and P-LCR (ρ = 0.11, p = 0.336) were not. After adjustment for clinical covariates, only large-platelet count remained associated with sVCAM-1 (β = 58.7 ng/mL per SD; 95% CI 23.4–94.1; p = 0.002). Conclusion In stable CAD, large-platelet count and, less robustly, platelet count, but not MPV or P-LCR, were weakly associated with sVCAM-1. These hypothesis-generating findings require confirmation in larger prospective studies.