Mean Platelet Volume as a Marker of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Very Premature Infants

Background: Since the intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is still a serious problem in premature infants associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, there is a need for an accessible tool in order to identify these at high risk neonates. Objectives: To determine if high mean platelet volume (MPV) within 24 hours of birth can identify preterm infants prone to IVH as a simple accessible test. Methods: One hundred premature infants with gestational age (GA) of < 34 weeks with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were eligible in this study and were divided into two groups based on the diagnosis of IVH. Measurements of MPV and platelet counts were performed during the first hours of admission and on the third day of life. Elevated MPV was defined as a value of ≥ 11 fL. Results: Seventy four percent of infants with IVH had an MPV of more than 11 fL compared to twenty six percent in infants without IVH (Crude OR: 10.71, 95%CI: 4.26 to 26.90, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of selected variables demonstrated that MPV (Adjusted OR: 10.68, 95%CI: 3.20 to 35.59, P < 0.001) and GA (Adjusted OR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.40 to 0.74, P < 0.001) were related to the occurrence of IVH. Conclusions: High MPV within 24 hours of birth can be determined as a simple available laboratory test for identifying NICU-admitted premature infants at risk of IVH.