Abstract
Background:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is associated with a prothrombotic state.
Aim: To evaluate platelet activation, expressed as Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) in recently diagnosed IPF patients in comparison with an age- and BMI-matched control group, and to explore possible correlations between these levels and respiratory function in IPF patients.
Materials and methods:This study included 56 IPF patients (age 64.9±7.4 years, BMI 28.55±4.41 Kg/m2) and 79 controls (age 64.2±5.9 years, BMI 28.92±2.98 Kg/m2; p=0.546 and p=0.559 respectively).
Results: As expected, respiratory function was significantly impaired in IPF patients vs. controls in terms of FEV1 (67.15±23.13 vs. 102.62±15.89 %predicted, p<0.001), FVC (65.32±20.99 vs. 95.24±16.09 %predicted, p<0.001), FEV1/FVC (83.07±14.97 vs. 87.5±6.39; p=0.041) and PaO2 (67.13±10.32 vs. 81.51±15.15 mmHg; p<0.001). In IPF patients DLCO was 36.42±16.34 %predicted and TLC was 61.79±16.64 %predicted.
Platelet count was significant lower in IPF patients compared to controls (230,286±59,859 vs 255,608±75,010 cells/ml; p=0.038). On the contrary, MPV was higher in these patients vs. controls (10.35±1.23 vs 9.85±1.23 fl; p=0.024). Difference in PDW was not statistically significant (13.46±1.99 vs. 13.34±2.36 fl, p=0.766).
Correlation analysis revealed no association between MPV and FVC (r=-0.1497, p=0.275) nor between MPV and DLCO (r=0.035, p=0.798) and MPV and TLC (r=0.032, p=0.820).
Conclusions: Platelet activation, expressed as MPV, is higher in IPF patients and is accompanied by a lower platelet count. This finding could be used as an initial biomarker in IPF patients, but further analysis is required.
- © 2014 ERS