title: Mean platelet volume (MPV) may simply predict the severity of sepsis in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the efficacy of serial mean platelet volume (MPV) measurements in diagnosis and followup of sepsis and to compare its effectiveness with C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preterm infants, whose gestational age and weight were matched to each other, were grouped as control (n = 100) and sepsis (n = 91). Platelet indices (MPV, PDW, platelet count), CRP, and IL-6 levels were measured for the control group and on the day of diagnosis (1st day), 3rd, and 7th days of the sepsis group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the control and sepsis group in terms of platelet count and MPV/PDW levels (p < 0.05). No significant changes were found in either platelet count or MPV and PDW of infants between early and late onset sepsis, nor between culture proven and non proven sepsis, nor among different infectious agents (gram positive/negative and fungal infections) (p > 0.05). Additionally, non-survivors with sepsis had higher levels of MPV and PDW during sepsis episodes on consecutive days (p < 0.05), in contrast to lower platelet counts in non-survivors (p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between MPV and IL-6 and CRP. A MPV value of 10.35 fL was identified as the cut off value in patients probably resulting in sepsis with a sensitivity of 97.8% and specificity of 78.7% (AUC = 0.949; p < 0.001), and a MPV value of 10.75 fL was determined as the cut off value in patients possibly resulting in death at diagnosis with a sensitivity of 95.2% and a specificity of 84.9% (AUC = 0.944; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean platelet volume can be used in addition to CRP and IL-6 at both diagnosis and follow-up of sepsis and the response of antimicrobial treatment.
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catal
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tayman
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonbul
authors.forename: Halise
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akça
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: M Mansur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tatli
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oztekin
authors.forename: Meki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilici
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index