Platelet function in euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy in women

A. Alcelik, G. Aktas, M. Eroglu, M. Tosun, H. Savli, O. Dikbas, A. Zeyrek, A. Yalcin

Department of Internal Medicine, Izzet Baysal Medical Faculty, Bolu, Turkey. aytekinalcelik@yahoo.com

 

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• Hematology

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported several platelet abnormalities in patients with sub-clinical or overt thyroid dysfunctions. The primary mechanism that affects the hemostatic balance is excess or deficiency of thyroid hormones. The different ways of thyroid gland to the platelet function are not yet clearly understood. The relationship between in the thyroid gland and platelet activation without thyroid hormones has not been studied yet.

AIM: The aim of our study is to determine the platelet function in euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy in females.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group includes 52 female euthyroid patients undergoing thyroidectomy. The control group consisted with 21 healthy euthyroid female. Platelet count (PC), platelet mass (PM), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were measured. PM was calculated by multiplying MPV and PLT.

RESULTS: MPV (8.4 ± 1.3 versus 7.9 ± 0.8) and PDW (17.8 ± 1 versus 17.6 ± 0.8) values were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid gland does not directly affect platelet activation. Accordingly, platelet abnormalities of thyroid disease can be considered to be independent of the underlying thyroid tissue. This finding suggests that association between thyroid diseases and platelet function is dependent on the status of thyroid hormones.

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