Mean platelet volume as a predictor of mortality in patients with severe hospital pneumonia

Abstract

Background. Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia is one of the leading cause of death among the ICU patients. The most important questions related to treatment of patients with Pneumonia are determination of prognostic factors, the severity criteria and diagnostic markers of disease duration. Platelets, as basic cells of hemostasis play a signi­ficant role in inflammation and immunity as a trigger in pathogenesis of many diseases. Mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects the severity of illness’s outcome and might have and prognostic value. The aim of the study — to determinate the dynamic of MPV assessment in patients with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia and its prognostic value. Materials and methods. A 45 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia with average hospital duration of 16 days (7–32) were divided in two groups according to the outcome of illness. Group 1 included 27 of survived patients, while group 2 consisted of 18 deceased patients. The complex laboratory tests were performed in order to assess the coagulation system. The Complete Blood Count panel and determination of morphological characteristics of platelets (MPV, platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), platelet distribution width (PDW)). Results. The increase of MPV registered in first days of disease has been noted in both groups. Although in repeated measurements shown that MPV was more increased in group of deceased patients and it has been high throughout all period of hospitalisation. Conclusions. MPV reflects the activity of platelets and most probably it has a prognostic value. The increase of MPV (as the Δ in MPV level at admission and discharge from hospital) might been related to worsen of outcome in patients with Hospital-Acquired pneumonia.