Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a determinant of platelet function, is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate MPV values in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Material and methods: Forty-nine women with gestational diabetes mellitus (mean age 28.2±4.7 years) and 40 healthy pregnant women (mean 26.2±4.6 years age) who came to our Out-Patient Clinic of Endocrinology were included in the study. GDM group and the control group were matched for age. All the study subjects were evaluated by platelet parameters. All complete blood count analysis was performed with an automatic hematologic analyser.

Result: The MPV levels in GDM were significantly higher than those control group (7.9±0.6 and 7.6±0.54 fl, respectively; P=0.0001). In addition, there was found a positive correlation between MPV and fasting glucose (FG) levels (r=0.52; P=0.03). The multiple regression analysis of MPV was performed. High MPV value in GDM was independent from age, BMI, and FG levels (β=0.238, P=0.046). No statistically significant differences were found for the other parameters such as haemoglobin, platelet count, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, white blood cell count, platelet distribution width, and plateletcrit.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that GDM are susceptible to increased MPV values, which contribute to increased risk of atherosclerosis. Future prospective studies that MPV was compared with other risk factors of atherosclerosis are required to determine their clinically importance in GDM.