Association of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in Relation to Disease Activity in Lupus

Introduction: Among the various clinical and biochemical parameters which are employed to monitor the disease activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Mean Platelet Volume, which is a platelet activation biomarker has been recently studied. We intended at evaluating the MPV in patients with active SLE and comparing it with the same patients who were in clinical remission, and to study the correlation between MPV and SLEDAI. We also studied the correlation between MPV and ESR, complements C3 and C4.

Methods: This is a prospective study conducted for a period of 12 months, in which 50 consecutive patients who were recently diagnosed with SLE according to the SLICC classification criteria were included. Complete blood count with MPV levels along with ESR, were measured at the first visit to the hospital and were repeated at every visit till they attained clinical remission. Analysis of MPV was done at first visit and at remission. Complements C3 and C4 was done at the first visit and at remission. The results were then tabulated and statistically analysed using SPSS 25. A Pearson’s correlation test was done to assess the relation between MPV, ESR and SLEDAI.

Results: Patients with active disease had a decreased MPV as compared to those in clinical remission (10.91fl, 13.11fl, p=0.011). We observed a weak positive correlation between MPV and SLEDAI (r=0.034, p=0.011). We observed no correlation between MPV and ESR, C3 and C4. Meanwhile, SLEDAI showed a positive correlation with C3 and C4; there was no correlation with ESR though.

Conclusion: MPV is reduced in patients with active SLE and displayed an inverse correlation with SLEDAI.