Platelet volume indices correlate to severity of heart failure and have prognostic value for both cardiac and thrombotic events in patients with congenital heart disease

Introduction Patients with heart failure are reported to have activated platelets leading to thrombotic events. Consequently, immature giant platelets are produced, and platelet distribution width (PDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) increase. These platelet indices are easily, reasonably, and safely available by routine blood test and recently have been proposed as potential markers of cardiac events. However, little is known about the usefulness of platelet indices in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Purpose To test whether the hypothesis that PDW and MPV correlate to the severity of heart failure and have prognostic value in both future heart failure-related admission and thrombosis formation in patients with CHD. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-centre study that included 400 patients with CHD (median age, 34 years [range: 12–76]; 49% males; 35% single ventricular morphology), who were admitted in our institute between April 2014 and June 2017. We reviewed patients' medical records to assess their clinical information including medical history, blood sample data, and echocardiologic parameters. At first, we assessed the correlation between platelet indices and patients' clinical parameters. Next, we compared platelet indices before and after treatment for heart failure. Finally, using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses, we assessed prognostic factors of future heart failure-related admission and thrombosis formation. Results In multivariate analysis, a significant correlation was found between PDW and logBNP (brain natriuretic peptide) (p Conclusion Platelet volume indices correlate to severity of heart failure and have prognostic value for both cardiac and thrombotic events in patients with congenital heart disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None