Relationship between mean platelet volume and retinopathy of prematurity

We aimed to investigate the association between mean platelet volume (MPV) and the occurrence of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This was a retrospective case-control study. Cases with ROP required laser surgery; controls developed no ROP or stage 1 ROP. Most recent peripheral blood platelet indices before laser (case) and matched age (control) were abstracted. Student's t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. A significant difference was found in MPV values between infants with ROP and control groups (10.76 +/- 1.27 fl, 10.04 +/- 0.91 fl, p = 0.0001). No significant differences were found in the mean platelet counts or MPV/Platelet counts between the two groups (p = 0.4151, p = 0.1460, respectively). There was a 1.94-fold increase in the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (OR:1.94; p = 0.005) as the MPV value increased. Elevated MPV is associated with the occurrence of type 1 ROP. A hypothesis is presented concerning the role of platelets as sequester and deliverer angiogenesis regulators during the neovascularization phase of ROP.