Platelet Count Predicts Adverse Clinical Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke or TIA: Subgroup Analysis of CNSR II

Conclusion: In ischemic stroke or TIA patients with platelet count within normal range, platelet count may be a qualified predictor for long-term recurrent stroke, mortality, and poor functional outcome. Introduction Platelets exert a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic complications of cardio-cerebrovascular disease, contributing to thrombus formation, and embolism (1, 2). Previous literature reported that platelets of various size and density are produced by megakaryocytes of different size and stages of maturation in different clinical conditions, suggesting various platelet patterns in different clinical conditions (3). Abnormal PC has been confirmed as a readily available biomarker of poor prognosis in cardiovascular disease patients (4), critically ill patients (5), and general population (6). However, the clinical significance of PC, especially for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, is not well-established and further risk stratification according to baseline PC within normal range for ischemic stroke or TIA patients has not been reported before. These preliminary findings and the important role of platelets in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis probably qualify platelet count an easily available and novel prognostic biomarker for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, though not as definitive conclusions. The hypothesis of the present study was that ischemic stroke or TIA patients with PC differing from the general population median had increas...
Source: Frontiers in Neurology - Category: Neurology Source Type: research