Racial differences in platelet counts in New Zealand men.

Healthy Maori males were found to have higher platelet counts (mean 295 x 10(9)/L: SD 46) compared to healthy nonMaori males (mean 253 x 10(9)/L; SD 50). Maori males had higher weights (mean 88.4 kg; SD 12.5) than nonMaori males (mean 81.0 kg; SD 9.0); and the platelet count was significantly correlated with weight (r = 0.30; p = 0.003). After weight adjustment significant differences between Maori and nonMaori males for platelet counts remained. These findings have implications for laboratory reference ranges, and may be of epidemiological significance in cardiovascular disease.