De Pergola G, et al. - Researchers assessed if a significant change in platelet number could be a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by evaluating the link between platelet number and early signs of atherosclerosis, measured by carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT). Study participants were 961 normal weight, overweight, and obese subjects, of whom 686 were women and 275 were men, aged between 18 and 74 years. Findings demonstrated that, in a population mostly characterized by obese patients, lower platelet number was an independent determinant of c-IMT. In final multiple regression analysis, only age and systolic blood pressure, positively, and platelet number, negatively, were found to be decidedly and independently related to c-IMT. Findings implied that, in subjects developing thickening of carotid artery, a decrease of platelet number may well be an early defensive mechanism.