title: Respiratory syncytial virus infection is strongly correlated with decreased mean platelet volume.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, infections have usually been associated with elevations of the mean platelet volume. We correlated infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with changes in mean platelet volume (MPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of patients with positive and negative rapid RSV assays and viral cultures, as well as children under 10 years of age with bronchoscopy for pneumonia or airway obstruction, were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MPV was significantly lower in patients with positive versus negative rapid RSV assays (9.7±0.8 vs. 10.5±0.9 fl, p<0.001), as well as viral cultures (9.9±1.0 vs. 10.5±1.0 fl, p<0.001). Children with RSV undergoing bronchoscopy (n=7) also had significantly lower MPV than children without RSV (n=79) (8.8±1.0 vs. 10.2±1.1 fl, p<0.004). An MPV <8.9 fl had a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 49% for RSV in children undergoing bronchoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that infection with RSV is associated with decreased MPV and this may be clinically useful in children undergoing bronchoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Homestead Hospital, Homestead, Florida, USA; Department of Pathology, Baptist Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA. andrewr@baptisthealth.net
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toraya
authors.forename: Edwin W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063847:Mean Platelet Volume; D008875:Middle Aged; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bronchoscopy; Children; Mean platelet volume; Platelet count; Respiratory syncytial virus