Platelet Count and Volume and Pharmacological Closure with Paracetamol of Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants

Background: Low platelet count might promote resistance to pharmacological closure with indomethacin and ibuprofen of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). However, no studies have investigated if this occurs with paracetamol. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the correlation between platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), and plateletcrit (PCT), as well as the effectiveness of paracetamol in closing hsPDA in infants born at 23+0–31+6 weeks of gestation who were treated with 15 mg/kg/6 h of i.v. paracetamol for 3 days. Results: We studied 79 infants: 37 (47%) Had closure after a course of paracetamol and 42 (53%) did not. Platelet count and PCT did not correlate with paracetamol success or failure in closing hsPDA, while MPV was lower at birth (10.7 ± 1.4 vs. 9.5 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and prior to starting therapy (11.7 ± 1.9 vs. 11.0 ± 1.6; p = 0.079) in refractory infants. Regression analysis confirmed that the low MVP measured prior to starting the treatment increased the risk of hsPDA paracetamol closure failure (OR 1.664, 95% CI 1.153–2.401). Conclusions: The greater MPV correlated positively with the effectiveness of paracetamol in closing hsPDA, while platelet count and PCT did not influence closure rates. Additional studies are needed to confirm our results.

Mean platelet volume and mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio as predictors of severity and mortality in sepsis

Introduction Sepsis is a public health problem due to its high prevalence and mortality. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a biomarker reported in routine blood counts, has been investigated and shows promise for determining fatal outcomes in septic patients. Objective Evaluate whether the mean platelet volume (MPV) and mean platelet volume-to-platelet count (MPV/P) ratio are predictors of clinical severity and mortality in patients with sepsis. Methods A prospective population cohort of 163 patients aged 18–97 years was recruited at the Intensive Care Unit of Pablo Arturo Hospital, Quito, Ecuador from 2017–2019 and followed up for 28 days. Patients were diagnosed with sepsis based on SEPSIS-3 septic shock criteria; in which the MPV and the MPV/P ratio were measured on days 1, 2, and 3. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and presence of septic shock assessed clinical severity. Mortality on day 28 was considered the fatal outcome. Results The average age of the patients was 61,15 years (SD 20,94) and female sex was predominant. MPV cutoff points at days 1, 2 and 3 were >9,45fL, >8,95fL and >8, 85fL; and (MPV/P) ratio >8, 18, >4, 12 y >3, 95, respectively. MPV at days 2 (9,85fL) and 3 (8,55fL) and (MPV/P) ratio at days 1 (4,42), 2 (4,21), and 3 (8,55), were predictors of clinical severity assessed by septic shock, which reached significance in the ROC curves. MPV and (MPV/P) ratio were also predictors of clinical severity determined by SOFA at days 1, 2, and 3, where higher values were observed in non-survivors reaching significance in all categories. MPV and MPV/P ratio at days 1, 2 and 3 were independent predictor factors of mortality using Cox proportional hazards model (HR 2,31; 95% CI 1,36–3,94), (HR 2,11; 95% CI 1,17–3,82), (HR 2,13; 95% CI 1,07–4,21) and (HR 2,38; 95% CI 1,38–4,12), (HR 2,15; 95% CI 1,14–4,06), (HR 4,43; 95% CI, 1,72–11,37) respectively. Conclusions MPV and the MPV/P ratio are predictors of clinical severity and mortality in sepsis. The MPV and its coefficient are indicators of the biological behavior of platelets in sepsis. They should be considered as a cost-effective and rapidly available tool that guides the treatment.

Mean platelet volume and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective This meta-analysis evaluated the association between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods A systematic literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases until June 2021 was conducted. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined using a random effects model. Results Ten studies involving 866 women with PCOS and 548 age- and body mass index-matched women without PCOS were included. The MPV was significantly increased in women with PCOS compared with non-PCOS women (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.13–0.72). Subgroup analyses showed that this trend was consistent in cross-sectional studies (SMD = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.03–0.86) and in Turkish women (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.13–0.79). Meta-regression analysis revealed a marginally positive correlation between the MPV and the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in women with PCOS. The sensitivity analysis showed that the effect estimate was robust and stable, and publication bias was not evidenced in the pooled analysis. Conclusions This meta-analysis revealed that women with PCOS have a significantly increased MPV than women without PCOS, which is probably associated with insulin resistance. INPLASY registration number: INPLASY2021100021.

High platelet distribution width can independently predict testicular survival in testicular torsion among patients with steady-state sickle cell anemia

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of platelet volume indices (PVI), such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT), as prognostic indicators of testicular viability in torsion patients with steady-state sickle cell anemia (SCA) who underwent surgical exploration.MethodsForty-eight patients with SCA with testicular torsion and 46 male control subjects were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography before surgery, and PVI (MPV, PDW, and PCT) values were measured in all participants. Symptom duration and testicular volume were also recorded.ResultsThe testicular salvage rate in patients with SCA was 73% after surgery. Analyses showed that MPV, PDW, and PCT values were significantly higher in torsed SCA as compared with controls (p<0.05). Orchiectomy in patients with SCA showed significantly higher MPV, PDW, and PCT values than the orchiopexy group (p<0.05). The MPV values of orchiectomy patients showed a higher significant cut-off of ≥11.5 fL, which is higher than in torsed patients without SCA, as an indicator of testis survival. PDW also demonstrated a higher significant cut-off of ≥12.7 fL for detorsion outcomes in patients with SCA. Symptom duration of less than 7 hours was also significantly correlated with orchiopexy (p≤0.001). Univariate analysis showed that higher MPV, increased PDW, and symptom duration were indicative of the outcome of testicular detorsion in SCA. Multivariable analysis showed that increased PDW and symptom duration are prognostic parameters for testicular viability in SCA.ConclusionIncreased PDW and symptom duration can be used as parameters for predicting testicular detorsion outcomes in patients with steady-state SCA.