1984 Volume 21 Issue 6 Pages 545-549
The purpose of the present study is to clarify the clinical significance of platelet changes in cerebral vascular disorders. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PLT) were measured by a Coulter Counter Model S-Plus and platelet retention rate (RR) was measured by the glass beads column method. The subjects consisted of 154 normal subjects (54±3 y.o.), 12 patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis (68±9 y.o.), 20 patients with cerebral infarction (69±9 y.o.) and 9 patients with Alzheimer type dementia (74±7 y.o.), twelve out of 32 patients of arteriosclerosis or infarction had cerebral vascular dementia (71 ±8 y.o.). The following results were obtained.
MPV was significantly increased in cerebral infarction as compared to normal subjects, but not singificant in cerebral arteriosclerosis. PLT was significantly decreased in cerebral infarction and cerebral arteriosclerosis as compared to normal subjects. In patients with arteriosclerosis and infarction, MPV and PLT exhibited a significant negative correlation. MPV was also significantly increased in cerebral vascular dementia as compared to Alzheimer type dementia, and PLT was significantly decreased in cerebral vascular dementia. No significant difference of RR was observed among cerebral infarction, cerebral arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer type dementia.
These results indicate that the above-mentioned platelet parameter changes may reflect cerebral vascular lesion so that the measurement of MPV and PLT may be useful in foreseeing stroke attack in patients with cerebral disease, and in understanding of the pathophysiology of dementia.
