title: Mean platelet volume as an indicator of disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute pancreatitis (AP) constitutes a systemic inflammatory process which is often accompanied by thrombosis and bleeding disorders. The role of platelets in the pathophysiology of the disease has not been elucidated yet. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an index of platelet activation and reported to be influenced by inflammation. The objective of the present study is to assess whether platelet volume would be useful in predicting disease severity in AP. Additionally possible relationship of MPV with clinical and radiologic parameters in conjunction with other inflammatory markers during AP was also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 144 AP patients (male/female: 87/57), and 40 healthy subjects (male/female: 23/17) were enrolled in this study. Mean platelet volume and inflammatory parameters were measured for all study participants. Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) and the computerized tomography severity index (CTSI) were used as to predict the disease severity in AP patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant decrease in MPV levels was observed in AP patients (8.06 ± 0.71 fL) compared with healthy controls (8.63 ± 0.62 fL) (P<0.001). According to the mGPS, overall accuracy of MPV in determining severe AP was 72.7% with a sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of 70.6%, 73.9%, 81.9%, and 60 respectively (AUC: 0.762). Overall accuracy of MPV in predicting disease severity according to CTSI was not superior compared with other inflammation markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that MPV is decreased in AP. Assessment of MPV with other inflammatory markers may provide additional information about disease severity in AP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Turkiye Yuksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Sihhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. yavuzbeyaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beyazit
authors.forename: Abdurrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayilir
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torun
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suvak
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yesil
authors.forename: Tugrul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Purnak
authors.forename: Erkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oztas
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kekilli
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D048429:Cell Size; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood*; D015539:Platelet Activation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index