NATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH print ISSN: 2249 4995│eISSN: 2277 8810 Volume 3│Issue 3│July – Sept 2013 Page 264 ORIGINAL RESEARCH MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND RED CELL DISTRIBUTION WIDTH IN HEPATOSTEATOSIS Gulali Aktas 1 , Aytekin Alcelik 1 , Buket Kın Tekce 2 , Haluk Savlı 1 , Ummugul Uyeturk 1 , Mevlut Kurt 1 , Vildan Tekelioglu 1 , Yusuf Yuce 1 Authors’ Affiliation: 1 Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Bolu, Turkey; 2 Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Department of Biochemistry, Bolu, Turkey Correspondence: Gulali Aktas, Email: draliaktas@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) effects about 30% of the population in developed regions of the and is considered hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Studies in literature found association between hepatosteatosis and mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of platelet function. Furthermore, authors suggest thatred cell distribution width (RDW) should be an inflammatory marker in certain conditions. Objective: We aimed in this study to compare RDW and MPV values of the patients with hepatosteatosis to normal population. Methods: Fifty-three patients with NAFLD admitted to our clinic and 52 healthy controls enrolled to this retrospective study. White blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet count (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) values of the obtained and assessed. Results: We found that, RDW and MPV values were significantly elevated in patients with hepatosteatosis compared to control subjects. Conclusion: We think that beside MPV, RDW should also be an indicator of hepatosteatosis. More prospective studies with larger cohort are needed to confirm our results. Keywords: red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, hepatosteatosis, inflammation INTRODUCTİON Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) effects about 30% of the population in developed regions of the world 1 . It’s rate is increasing worldwide. NAFLD is considered hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome 2 . Therefore, it is not surprising that it is associated with insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and abdominal obesity. Simple steatosis, steatohepatitis and liver cirrhosis are included in the clinical spectrum of NAFLD 3 . Platelets are anucler cells produced by megakaryocytes in bone marrow. Mean platelet volume (MPV) refers the size of platelets and greater values are associated with platelet activation 4, 5 . However, platelet activation may be associated with microvesicle formation in smaller platelets 6 . A strong association between MPV and metabolic risk factors, included, diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome has been described in literature 7-11 . Red cell distribution width (RDW) refers the size variation of erythrocytes. Some authors suggest that RDW should be an inflammatory marker in certain conditions 12, 13 . Furthermore, there are various studies in literature pointed an association between RDW and cardiovascular diseases, stroke and celiac disease 14-16 . Some of the studies in literature found no association between MPV and hepatosteatosis 6 while others found strong association 17 . However, literature is lack of data about the possible association of RDW and hepatosteatosis. We aimed in this study to compare RDW and MPV values of the patients with hepatosteatosis to normal population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-three patients with NAFLD admitted to our clinic and 52 healthy controls enrolled to this retrospective study. Healthy controls were selected from individuals that have no abnormalities in check-up examinations. None of the subjects in study and control groups had a history of use of medications. Serological markers for known hepatitis viruses were negative for all patients with hepatosteatosis. They do not have an history of alcohol consumption. Degree of hepatosteatosis evaluated by ultrasound scan. Laboratory data of patients with NAFLD obtained at the time of diagnosis. White blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width