Mean platelet volume: A useful marker of inflammatory bowel disease activity

OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether the mean platelet volume would be a use ful marker in the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease activity. METHODS: Complete blood count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentatio n rate, serum thrombopoietin and erythropoietin, plasma beta -thromboglobul in, and platelet factor 4 were measured in 93 patients with ulcerative coli tis, 66 patients with Crohn's disease, and 38 healthy blood donors. Disease activity was assessed by the Clinical Colitis Activity Index in patients w ith ulcerative colitis and by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index in patient s with Crohn's disease. RESULTS: Mean platelet count was increased in patients with active compared to inactive ulcerative colitis (p < 0.05), and in patients with active com pared to inactive Crohn's disease (p = 0.0002) or healthy controls (p < 0.0 001). On the other hand, mean platelet volume was significantly decreased i n patients with active compared to inactive ulcerative colitis (p = 0.02) o r healthy controls (p < 0.0001), and in patients with active compared to in active Crohn's disease (p = 0.0005) or healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Mean platelet volume was inversely correlated with the white blood cell count (r = -0.17, p = 0.02), C-reactive protein (r = -0.46, (p = 0.009) and erythro cyte sedimentation rate (r = -0.28, p = 0.008). No significant correlations were found between mean platelet volume and serum thrombopoietin or erythr opoietin levels; however, a strong negative correlation between mean platel et volume and beta -thromboglobulin (r = -0.34, p < 0.0001) and platelet fa ctor 4 (r = -0.30, p = 0.0002) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Mean platelet volume is significantly reduced in active inflam matory bowel disease and is negatively correlated with the known inflammato ry bowel disease activity markers and the platelet activation products. We propose that mean platelet volume provides a useful marker of activity in i nflammatory bowel disease. <(c)> 2001 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.