Mean Platelet Volume: A Simple Tool For Early Risk Stratification Of Pulmonary Embolism

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is still major health problem associated with a significant mortality and morbidity. Rapidly recognition of massive and submassive cases should be easy and available in order to commencement appropriate therapy. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and PE severity.
METHODS: Three hundred twenty five patients with proven PE (massive=113, submassive =129, and non-massive=83 patients) groups were retrospectively evaluated.
RESULTS: The MPV value of patients with PE group was significantly higher compared to healthy subjects 9.8 ± 1.7 fl vs. 9.1 ±0.8 fl, P < 0.001). There were significant differences in regards to MPV levels between the patients with massive, sub-massive, and non-massive PE [10 (6.9-17.2) vs. 9.8 (6.6- 19.5) vs. 9.2(5.8- 13.2) fl, respectively p = 0.004].
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: MPV is significantly higher in subjects with newly diagnosed PE patients and also MPV is strongly associated with the severity of PE.