Is there a relationship between mean platelet volume and the severity of coronary ectasia?

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation that is elevated in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). We aimed to research relationship between MPV and the severity of coronary ectasia. The reports of 6,377 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography screening between January 2011 and January 2015 were reviewed. After exclusion, 117 patients with isolated CAE were included in this study. The severity of CAE was divided into four types according to the Markis classification. There was no significant difference in age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, or family history between the CAE and normal angiogram groups (P>0.05). MPV was significantly higher in patients with CAE than the control group (11.14 ± 1.13 vs. 9.82 ± 0.90 fL, P<0.001). MPV was significantly higher in Markis type 1 than in type 2, and in type 2 than in type 4 (both P<0.001). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, MPV (OR=3.555, 95% CI 2.282–5.538, P<0.01) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) (OR=2.393, 95% CI 1.573–3.639, P<0.01) were identified as independent predictors of CAE. The MPV cutoff value was found to be 10.85 femtoliters (fL) (82.1% sensitivity, 81.8% specificity). MPV and RDW are both increased in CAE. MPV and RDW are positively correlated with each other. An increased MPV is associated with the severity of CAE. MPV values >10.85 fL may indicate the presence of CAE.