title: Change of mean platelet volume values in asthmatic children as an inflammatory marker.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood in industrialised countries. T helper-2 (Th-2) cells, mast cells and eosinophils have a role in inflammation of asthma. Recently it was shown that platelets also play a role in asthma. Mean platelet volume shows platelet size and reflects platelet activation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate levels of mean platelet volume in asthmatic patients during asymptomatic periods and exacerbations compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 100 asthmatic patients (male/female: 55/45, mean age: 8.2±3.3) and 49 age and sex matched healthy children as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean platelet volume values of asthmatic patients during asymptomatic period were 7.7±0.8fL while mean platelet volume values in asthmatics during exacerbation were 7.8±0.9fL. Comparison of mean platelet volume values of asthmatic patients and healthy controls both in acute asthmatic attack and asymptomatic period showed no difference (p>0.05). Comparison of mean platelet volume values at asthmatic attack and asymptomatic period also had no difference (p>0.05). The presence of atopy, infection, eosinophilia, elevated immunoglobulin E, and severity of acute asthmatic attack did not influence mean platelet volume values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study suggest that mean platelet volume values may not be used as a marker in bronchial asthma, although prospective studies with larger number of patients are needed to evaluate the role of mean platelet volume in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey. tuba.tuncel@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuncel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hocaoglu
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Erge
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzuner
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010979:Platelet Function Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators