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.