title: Value of serial platelet indices measurements for the prediction of pulmonary embolism in patients with deep venous thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, no validated biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity have been established for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT). There is a need to develop simple and reliable noninvasive tests that can accurately identify patients with PE, even in small hospitals or clinics. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) for predicting occurrence of PE in patients with DVT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of acute DVT patients were reviewed retrospectively. Group 1 consisted of 50 patients with acute DVT and group 2 consisted of 50 patients with acute DVT who developed PE during follow-up. The control group consisted of patients with uncomplicated primary varicose veins of the lower limbs. Venous peripheral blood samples for measurement of MPV, PDW, and platelet count were drawn on admission, before the treatment, and at the time of PE diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPV and PDW levels at the time of PE diagnosis were higher in group 2 than group 1 (P<0.001 and P=0.026, respectively). Receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed that a 5.2% increase in admission PDW during follow-up provided 70% sensitivity and 82% specificity (area under the curve, 0.80), and a 6.6% increase in admission MPV during follow-up provided 74% sensitivity and 83% specificity (area under the curve, 0.84) for prediction of PE occurrence in patients with DVT. PDW and MPV levels at the time of PE diagnosis were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of PE in patients with DVT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serial measurements of MPV and PDW, and percent change in MPV and PDW appears to be a useful marker for predicting occurrence of acute PE in patients with a first episode of acute proximal DVT.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Utkan
authors: U
authors: Sevuk
authors: Department of General Surgery, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Veysi
authors: MV
authors: Bahadir
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Rojhat
authors: R
authors: Altindag
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Erkan
authors: E
authors: Baysal
authors: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Baris
authors: B
authors: Yaylak
authors: Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Nurettin
authors: N
authors: Ay
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Firat
authors: F
authors: Ayaz
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Liv Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ertan
authors: E
authors: Demirtas
keywords: deep venous thrombosis; mean platelet volume; platelet distribution width; platelet indices; pulmonary embolism