Do platelet indices have a role in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Objectives: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a frequently encountered condition that can severely affect quality of life. Present study was undertaken to investigate whether the platelet (PLT) indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet crit (PCT), could serve as diagnostic tools in patients with BPPV.

Methods: Consecutive 45 BPPV patients and age- and sex-matched 40 control subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional prospective study. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients underwent a complete audio-vestibular test battery including Dix-Hallpike maneuver. Routine laboratory analyses were performed in both of the groups.

Results: In BPPV patients, PLT, MPV, and PDW were found significantly higher than in controls (P < 0·05). Platelet and mean platelet volume were independently associated with BPPV (P  =  0·002 and P < 0·001, respectively). Platelet and platelet crit were significantly higher in patients with BPPV involving the left labyrinth than in those with the right affected side (P < 0·05). Mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were to be significantly higher in the BPPV patients with recurrent vertigo attack than in those with first-ever attack (P < 0·001). A cutoff value of 8·75 for MPV and 16·65 for PDW parameters were obtained to identify the recurrence in BPPV patients in the receiving operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Conclusions: Elevated PLT indices were associated with BPPV requiring further efforts to better clarify this issue.