Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences Vol. 1(3) pp. 061-064 April 2010 Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/JMMS Copyright ©2010 International Research Journals Full Length Research paper Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Patients: Is it a useful parameter in assessing prediction for mortality? Yasar Kucukardali*, Yalcin Onem*, Hakan Terekeci*, Fatih Tangi*, Burak Sahan*, Alev Akyol Erikci**, Ozkan Sayan**, Selim Nalbant *, Cagatay Oktenli * *Department of Internal Medicine, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul-Turkey **Department of Haemotology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul-Turkey Accepted 20 March, 2010 The aim of the study is to investigate MPV (mean platelet volume) showing platelet reactivity if it is associated with the severity of the critical illness or mortality in ICU patients. Study group (130 patients) was formed from survivor group (68 patients) and non-survivor group (62 patients). Platelet counts and MPV values were compared between two groups in the first five days of hospitalization. MPV correlation was studied with APACHE II score, age, haemoglobin level, duration in the ICU and as an independent risk factor in mortality. Mean age and APACHE scores were significantly higher in non-survivor group compared to survivor group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups according to MPV and platelet counts in first five days of hospitalization. There was a unique positive correlation between MPV and APACHE score (r: 0.34, p< 0.05). Only age was independent risk factor in mortality. In our study, we found positive correlation between severity of critical illness and MPV. However, there was no relation between MPV and mortality in heterogenic critical patients. Subgroup analysis of patients in ICU might be useful in assessing prediction for mortality. Key words: Mean platelet volume, critical illness, mortality, APACHE, ICU INTRODUCTION Mean platelet volume is expected as a possible marker for platelet function. Large platelets contain more dense granules, metabolically and enzymatically more active than small platelets and produce more thromboxane A2 (Corash et al., 1977, Thompson et al. 1982). Increased MPV levels were recognized as an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke (Cameron et al., 1983, Pizzuli et al., 1998, Endler et al., 2002, Bath et al., 2004). It is also shown that MPV values are high in patients with diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes mellitus (Hekimsoy et al., 2004, Erikci et al., 2008). An elevated level of the MPV is also related with poor clinical outcome among survivors of myocardial infarction and there is a positive relation between MPV and severity of acute ischemic cerebrovascular events (Pabon et al., 1998, Greisenegger et al., 2004). It was also reported *Corresponding author email: yasarkardali@yahoo.com that the MPV in patients with localized infection was normal in all, but about half of the patients with septicemia had increased MPV, not related to the platelet count (Lelie and Borne, 1983). So, we have some studies showing the correlation of the MPV with the poor clinical outcomes of some diseases such as myocardial infarction, acute ischemic serebrovascular events, septicemia, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. However, there is no report on the predictive value or usefulness of MPV in ICU patients who had heterogenic critical illness. The aim of this study is to investigate predictive value of the MPV to estimate the severity of the critical illness for all causes in ICU patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective medical ICU based study was carried out on 155 patients between January 2008 and April 2008. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the GATA Training Hospital. Written informed consent was obtained from all cases.