Mean platelet volume is associated with insulin resistance in non-obese, non-diabetic patients with coronary artery disease

Summary Background and purpose Mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of platelet activation, has been shown to be elevated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in some studies. Insulin resistance contributes to increased platelet activation and it is one of the risk factors for CAD. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between insulin resistance and MPV in non-obese, non-diabetic patients with CAD. Methods and subjects Seventy-seven non-obese, non-diabetic CAD patients were divided into two groups, insulin resistant and insulin sensitive according to the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The insulin-resistant group was composed of 45 patients (30 males/15 females; mean age 59.8 ± 11.1 years). The insulin-sensitive group was composed of 32 patients (17 males/15 females; mean age 58.9 ± 12.2 years). Results Insulin and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in insulin-resistant CAD patients than in insulin-sensitive CAD patients. The MPV values were significantly higher in insulin-resistant CAD patients than in insulin-sensitive CAD patients (8.6 ± 1.0 fl vs. 8.0 ± 0.7 fl; respectively, p = 0.01). The MPV was poorly correlated with HOMA-IR ( r = 0.30, p = 0.054) and insulin ( r = 0.22, p = 0.053). Conclusions We have shown that MPV was significantly elevated in insulin-resistant non-obese, non-diabetic CAD patients when compared to insulin-sensitive non-obese, non-diabetic CAD patients.