title: Mean platelet volume in obese adolescents with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of excess fat in the liver in the absence of alcohol consumption, which commonly coexists with obesity. NAFLD is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation, which is a determinant of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The first aim of the present study was to investigate the MPV levels in obese adolescents and compare the MPV levels in patients with and without NAFLD and also with healthy controls. The second aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between IR and MPV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case records of 128 exogenous obese adolescents were retrospectively evaluated. Laboratory parameters were collected by using a computerized patient database. Insulin resistance was calculated by a homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with NAFLD (Group 1) and patients without NAFLD (Group 2). Forty-seven healthy children constituted the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPV was significantly higher in obese adolescents than their healthy peers. Group 1 had significantly higher MPV than group 2. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2. MPV was significantly higher in patients with IR than patients without IR. There was a positive correlation between MPV and HOMA-IR. MPV was inversely correlated with HDL cholesterol and platelet count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPV may be used as a follow-up marker in patients with NAFLD at the point of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey. nur.arslan@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Balahan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Makay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D048429:Cell Size; D002648:Child; D019963:Clinical Chemistry Tests; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology; D010979:Platelet Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers