title: Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Distribution Width as Markers in the Diagnosis of Acute Gangrenous Appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute gangrenous appendicitis (AGA) is a common medical condition; however, the grade of appendicitis usually cannot be established preoperatively. We have attempted to identify some indicators, such as the mean platelet volume (MPV) and the platelet distribution width (PDW), to diagnose AGA. Aims. To evaluate whether or not the MPV and PDW are suitable markers to diagnose AGA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 160 patients with AGA and 160 healthy patients was undertaken. Disease diagnosis was confirmed based on the pathologic examination of surgical specimens. Patient white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil ratio (NR), platelet (PLT) count, MPV, PDW, and hematocrit (HCT) were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these indices in AGA. Results. There were no significant differences between the AGA and control groups in age and gender. Compared to the control group, the WBC count, NR, and PDW were significantly higher (P < 0.001, resp.) and the MPV and HCT were significantly lower (P < 0.001, resp.) in the AGA group. The diagnostic specificities of the WBC count, NR, PLT count, MPV, PDW, and HCT were 86.3%, 92.5%, 58.1%, 81.7%, 83.9%, and 66.3%, respectively. Therefore, the NR had the highest diagnostic specificity for the diagnosis of AGA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to assess the MPV and PDW in patients with AGA. Our present study showed that the MPV is reduced and the PDW is increased in patients with AGA; the sensitivity of PDW was superior to the MPV. A decreased MPV value and an increased PDW could serve as two markers to diagnose AGA. The NR had the highest specificity for the diagnosis of AGA.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Non-Directly Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116033, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Non-Directly Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116033, China.
authors.forename: Jiyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Non-Directly Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116033, China.
authors.forename: Yingyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Baoshun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Northern Yard, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116023, China.
authors.forename: Huirong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D063847:Mean Platelet Volume; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers