Author/Authors :
Saremi, Zeinab Department of Internal Medicine - Valiasr Hospital , Rastgoo, Mahboobe , Mohammadifard, Mahyar Department of Radiology - Imam Reza Hospital , Bijari, Bita Department of Community Medicine - School of Medicine - Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand , Akbari, Ehsan Department of Internal Medicine - Valiasr Hospital
Abstract :
Background: There is interest about the role of platelet (PLT) number and function in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
NAFLD patients have abnormalities of PLT number and function, especially mean platelet volume (MPV) which is known as a
novel biomarker for atherosclerosis. We decided to compare PLT number and function between NAFLD and healthy participants.
Materials and Methods: In this case–control study, two groups of patients (65 cases with NAFLD and 65 cases without NAFLD)
were included consecutively. The diagnosis of NAFLD was made using ultrasound examination of the liver. Venous blood samples
were taken, and the required laboratory markers including PLT number and function (MPV, platelet distribution width [PDW]),
prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), lipid profile, hepatic transaminases, ferritin, and fasting blood sugar
were assayed. Results: Mean (± standard deviation [SD]) MPV in NAFLD group (10.29 ± 0.95 fL) was significantly higher than
in control group (9.56 ± 1.18 fL); P < 0.001. No significant difference was observed regarding mean (± SD) PLT count between
NAFLD (271.20 ± 52.11 × 103/mm3) and healthy participants (262.86 ± 75.81 × 103/mm3) (P = 0.46). Mean (± SD) PDW values were
not significantly different between NAFLD and control groups. Logistic regression showed that NAFLD was positively associated with
higher MPV (odds ratio [OR] =1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.20–3.02) and body mass index (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.05–2.15)
values. However, PT (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.02–0.82) and PTT (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.58–0.88) had negative association with NAFLD.
Conclusion: Higher MPV was found to be significantly associated with NAFLD. However, such significant association was not detected
regarding PLT count or PDW. As MPV is a reported risk factor for atherosclerosis, this marker may be useful in follow‑up of patients
with NAFLD. These findings provide basis for further studies to address this marker in long‑term follow‑up of NAFLD patients.
