Relationship between platelet count, platelet indices, and inflammatory markers in stable and acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis patients

Abstract

Background and objectivePersistent and chronic infection is one of the reasons underlying the sustained inflammation in bronchiectasis patients, and inflammatory markers may possess important clinical implications in the follow-up. Platelets are known to have effects on inflammatory response; in addition, a negative correlation has been shown between mean platelet volume (MPV) and inflammatory disease activity. The objective of this paper is to investigate and compare the levels of platelet (PLT) count and platelet indices during stable and acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis patients.Patients and methodsData were retrospectively collected from medical files of 63 patients (39 women) and 29 controls without bronchiectasis. Thirty patients had an acute exacerbation, and 33 were in a stable state of disease. Descriptive data, clinical, radiologic, and laboratory information were noted. The relationship between inflammatory markers and pulmonary function tests was evaluated.ResultsWhite blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and PLT count were significantly higher; however, hemoglobin level and MPV were lower during exacerbation. There was a correlation between PLT and CRP, WBC, and ESR, and a negative correlation between PLT and forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s. However, we found an inverse correlation between MPV and WBC, and ESR, a positive correlation between MPV and forced expiratory volume in 1 s.ConclusionWe have found that platelet indices PLT and MPV were significant in exacerbation of bronchiectasis patients compared with stable and control patients. Cell blood count, compared with CRP and other inflammatory markers, is a more practical, useful, cost-effective laboratory examination. Not just looking at the WBC, but just taking a glance at the platelet indices would be a useful and simple way to evaluate bronchiectasis patients.