Mean Platelet Volume (MPV): Usefulness in Ulcerative Colitis

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause. The clinical course is characterized by exacerbations and remissions. Aim: To assess mean platelet volume as a non invasive and cost-effective biomarker of disease activity. Methods: It was a cross sectional study.180 patients of UC from Jinnah hospital Lahore were enrolled and their mean platelet volume was measured. Results: From 180 patients, the minimum age was 15 years and maximum age was 56 years with mean +/- standard deviation as 36.71 +/- 12.42 years. The minimum duration of ulcerative colitis was 2 months and maximum duration was 6 months with mean +/- standard deviation as 4.00 +/- 1.42 months The minimum mean platelet volume was 7.06f1(3) and maximum age was 9.50f1(3) with mean +/- standard deviation as 8.49 +/- 65 f1(3). There were 51.7% male patients and 48.3% females. 62.8% patients had active phase whereas 37.2% patients had remission phase. By using independent sample t-test, there was significant difference between phase of ulcerative and mean platelet volume. Conclusion: Mean platelet volume was significantly lower in patients with active phase than in remission phase of disease. Thus, MPV can be used as a cost effective and non invasive biomarker for monitoring disease activity.