Marked Variability in Platelet Count and Distribution Width in Apparently Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Background: Platelets indices (PI) are a class of derived parameters of platelet gotten as part of an automated full blood count including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT). Aim: This study was aimed at assessing platelet count and platelet indices of apparently healthy subjects in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving a total of two hundred and sixty (260) apparently healthy subjects comprising of 167 females and 93 males between ages 18-80 years were recruited for this study. Five milliliters (5mls) of venous blood was collected aseptically by venipuncture technique from the subjects into vacutainer tubes for the analysis of full blood count using haematological autoanalyser, Sysmex Kx-21N. Results: The mean values for PLT (×10³μL), MPV (fL), PDW (fL) and PCT (%) for female subjects were 233.74±8.57, 10.02±0.09, 13.54±0.21 and 1.15±0.38. The values for male subjects were 235.28±11.48, 9.90±0.12, 13.64±0.28 and 0.99±0.52 respectively. There was no significant difference in the PLT (p= 0.9147), MPV (p= 0.4430), PDW (p= 0.7866) and PCT (p= 0.8041). The mean values for the study subjects <25, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 and above 65 years for PLT (×10³μL) were 307.65±26.41, 228.51±16.23, 197.41±17.00, 234.10±13.11, 234.66±19.25 and 243.70±14.55 for PDW (fL) were 12.54±0.63, 14.29±0.39, 14.25±0.40, 14.11±0.31, 12.50±0.46 and 12.80±0.35 respectively. There was a significant difference in the PLT (p= 0.0261) and PDW (p= 0.0006). Conclusion: This study shows that there is significant variation in platelet count and platelet distribution width due to differences in age. The platelet count was lowest among the middle aged while the platelet distribution width was higher among middle aged subjects.