Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on mean platelet volume

Objective— Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) increases cardiac performance and decreases morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet hyperreactivity, was found to be increased in both chronic heart failure and thromboembolic events. Systemic and pulmonary thromboembolism is a frequent complication of heart failure. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on MPV values.Methods and results— Fifty-six heart failure patients with increased QRS duration underwent biventricular pacemaker implantation. Blood samples were collected the morning before implantation and at six months follow-up. Response criteria were: an increase in ejection fraction of more than 10% from baseline at six months or no hospitalization for major cardiac events during the first six months. The mean MPV values were decreased from 9.3 ± 0.5 fl to 8.3 ± 0.5 fl. Patients with recorded major cardiac events in the follow-up period had no statistically significant decrease in MPV values.Conclusions— In our study we found that cardiac resynchronization therapy leads to a decreased MPV and clinical improvement in patients with heart failure that is accompanied with a decrease in MPV