Mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet count in erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet count (PC) and erectile dysfunction (ED). We searched for observational studies from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CNKI up to 31 March 2016. Two reviewers independently selected the studies and extracted the data. MPV, PDW, and PC and mean differences in these platelet indices between healthy subjects and ED patients were explored using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software package. Seven studies including 795 patients and 524 healthy subjects met the inclusion criteria. The MPV was significantly larger in patients with ED than controls with the standardised mean difference of 0.596 fL (95% CI: 0.378, 0.815, p<0.001). In ED patients, the pooled mean difference in MPV between vasculogenic ED patients and nonvasculogenic ED patients was 0.706 fL in case-control studies (95% CI: 0.410, 1.002, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in PDW and PC between healthy subjects and ED patients. The available data suggest that larger MPV was associated with ED. Patients with vasculogenic ED tend to have higher MPV than nonvasculogenic ED patients. Further studies are needed to assess whether increased MPV in ED patients is associated with increased cardiovascular disease.