TY - JOUR T1 - Platelets count in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P526 AU - Ernesto Crisafulli AU - Marco Marietta AU - Elena Venturelli AU - Mihai Roca AU - Bianca Beghè AU - Monica Bortolotti AU - Alessia Verduri AU - Mario Malerba AU - Michele Malagola AU - Leonardo Fabbri AU - Enrico Clini Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P526.abstract N2 - Platelets count (PTL) and activity in complex COPD is still a matter of debate in recent years. We have therefore undertaken a preliminary retrospective analysis in 196 stable patients (age 73±7 yrs, FEV1 47±16% pred.), to investigate PTL across the patient's characteristics and functions (including lung volumes and exercise tolerance by the six-minute walk test-6MWT). Patients with chronic liver disease were excluded.PTL (n*10-3/µL) increased according to the GOLD classes of airway obstruction (see figure). When adjusted for potential confounders (age, inflammation index, comorbidities, and use of anti-thrombotic agents) PTL correlated with FEV1 %pred. (r= -0.19, p=0.008) and meters performed at the 6MWT (r= -0.22, p=0.002).Circulating platelets increase in COPD patients with progressive lung severity and physical disability, possibly related to the parallel increase of systemic inflammation. The study warrants future prospective investigations to test this hypothesis. ER -