Relationship Between Platelet Parameters and Eosinophils with Disease Severity, CRP and Treatment in Stable COPD

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex inflammatory condition that primarily impairs respiration but can also affect hemostasis. This study aimed to determine differences in platelet-related parameters and eosinophil between COPD patients and healthy controls.

Methods: We included 149 patients with stable COPD and 30 healthy controls who were recruited from the outpatient department of Chest Diseases. Complete blood count, including platelet count (Plt), and C-reactive protein were measured. Other platelet-related parameters were determined, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (Pct), their ratios (MPV/Plt, MPV/Pct, PDW/Plt, PDW/Pct), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Results: COPD patients and controls did not show significant differences in platelet parameters (Plt, Pct, PDW, MPV, PDW/Pct, MPV/Pct). PLR was significantly higher in the patient groups than in the control group (p=0.009). Correlation between platelet count and PLR (p=0.047; p=0.05) showed borderline significance. However, we found no correlation between the patients' CRP levels, Pct, PDW, PDW/Pct, MPV/Pct and MPV values. There were no significant differences in platelet parameters in patients using and not using long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA). We did not find differences in eosinophil levels among COPD severity grades.

Conclusion: In our study, we found that PLR is elevated in COPD. PLR could be a useful and easily accessible parameter to evaluate ongoing inflammation in stable COPD. Large-scale studies are warranted to further investigate the role of platelet and eosinophil parameters in COPD.

Keywords: COPD; eosinophil; inflammation; platelet related parameters.