The relationship of the mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein levels with mortality in ischemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The relationship of the mean platelet volume (MPV) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values with mortality in patients with ischemic stroke is not clear. Besides, the correlation between CRP and MPV in patients with ischemic stroke has not been adequately studied yet. In the present study, our aim is to investigate the interrelationship of the CRP and MPV parameters together with their influence on mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-three patients with acute ischemic stroke have been enrolled in the study. The stroke patients were divided into 2 groups as those who died within the first 10 days and those who survived. The MPV and CRP in both groups have been compared. Also, the MPV obtained from the ischemic stroke patients were compared with the MPV of the healthy volunteers. RESULTS A statistically significant difference (p = 0.027) was observed between the MPV of the stroke patients (8.6±1.95 fL) and the control group (7.93±0.82 fl). The MPV (9.24±1.98 fL) and CRP (10.8±7.0 mg/l) of those ischemic stroke patients who died were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the MPV (8.09±1.75 fl) and CRP (3.2±3.5 mg/l) of the patients who survived. There was also a positive correlation between the MPV and CRP of the ischemic stroke patients (r = 0.31, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS The fact that there is a relationship between the MPV and CRP in ischemic stroke patients and that the CRP and MPV are higher in the ischemic stroke patients who died in comparison to those who survived may be an indication of the roles these markers play in the mortality of stroke patients.