BACKGROUND
Nasal airway obstruction is a common cause of upper airway obstruction. It is associated strongly with obstructive and hypoxic manifestations. Mean platelet volume (MPV) levels increase in hypoxic conditions. MPV is one of the platelet activation indices which re!ects the platelet production rate. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between MPV levels and nasal septal deviation (NSD) by using acoustics rhinometry in patients with septum deviation.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 51 patients with NSD and 58 healthy age matched subjects as control group. The diagnosis of patients with NSD was based on anterior rhinoscopy, endoscopic nasal examination and acoustics rhinometry. All the patients underwent Cottle- or Killian-type septoplasty under general anesthesia. Blood samples were collected before nasal septoplasty.
RESULTS
MPV and platelet distribution width (PDW) levels were significantly higher and mean platelet count was lower in patients with NSD than the control group. A negative correlation was found between MPV, NDVol2 (volume2 of non-deviated side of the nose) and TNDVol (total volume of non-deviated side of the nose) values.
CONCLUSION
MPV values increase in patients with NSD. Moreover, this increase was found in relation with the severity of obstruction.