title: Mean Platelet Volume and Splenomegaly as Useful Markers of Subclinical Activity in Egyptian Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Objective. To study whether mean platelet volume (MPV) and splenomegaly could be used as subclinical inflammatory markers in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) at the attack-free period. Patients and Methods. The study included ninety-seven children with FMF. MPV was carried out within 4 hours of blood sampling according to standard laboratory practice. Splenomegaly was determined by abdominal ultrasound (USG). Results. High MPV was detected in 84.45% of our studied patients and was significantly higher in FMF patients with splenomegaly than in patients without splenomegaly. There was a statistically significant correlation between MPV and splenic span (P = 0.045). Conclusion. Elevated MPV and its significant correlation with splenic span in FMF children during the attack-free periods support the use of MPV and splenomegaly as useful markers of the subclinical inflammation in FMF patients at the attack-free period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hala M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lotfy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Yomna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Garf