Relationship Between Mean Platelet Volume and Varicocele: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and varicocele to clarify the etiopathogenesis of varicocele. METHODS MPV levels were measured in 60 varicocele subjects (group I) and 57 healthy controls (group II) from 2009-2010. Ages were similar between the 2 groups. The diagnosis of varicocele was based on the findings from both physical examination and color Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS The average patient age at the time of examination was 28.12 +/- 6.4 years in group I and 28.10 +/- 5.8 in group II. MPV levels were statistically significantly higher in group I than in group II (P < .001). Positive correlations were found between MPV and varicocele grade as between MPV and diameter of left spermatic vein (P < .05). CONCLUSION The increase in MPV is independent of the disease, and the increase in varicocele grade is associated with higher MPV in varicocele patients. On the basis of the importance of the vascular component in the pathophysiology of varicocele, we would suggest conducting more studies with platelets in varicocele patients. UROLOGY 79: 1048-1051, 2012. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc.