ABSTRACT

We aimed to investigate the importance of mean platelet volume (MPV) as a marker for the activation and severity of disease in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The data of 84 patients diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis in our clinic between 2011 and 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into groups according to the activation status (active or in remission), acute or chronic disease, stage according to chest X-ray, and extrapulmonary involvement. The correlation of the initial MPV and ACE levels was evaluated.

Sixty-three of the patients were female, with an average age of 44 (38–52) years. Fifty-two of the patients (62%) were in stage 1, and 32 (38%) were in stage 2. The median ACE level was 59.6 (42.6–92), and the MPV level was 10.1 (9.7–10.7). Bronchoalveolar lavage was applied to 24 patients; all of these had predominant lymphocytes, and the median CD4/CD8 rate of the patients was 4.8 (3.2–12.5). A significant negative correlation was detected between ACE and MPV independently of the groups (p<0.038). There were no significant differences in MPV levels between patients whose activation status was active or in remission, between acute or chronic patients, between patients in stage 1 or stage 2, or between patients with or without extrapulmonary involvement (p>0.05 for all).

According to our data, MPV is not a significant marker for inflammation or activation of disease and is not suitable for use as a diagnostic and follow-up indicator in pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Keywords: Sarcoidosis, MPV, platelet