Could thrombocyte parameters be an inflammatory marker in the brucellosis?

Abstract

Aim To investigate links between platelet parameters mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet count (PC), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet mass (PM) and brucella tube agglutination titers (BSTAT) in patients with brucellosis. Initially, PC, MPV, PM and PDW calculations were compared between periods before and after treatment. The correlation between inlammation markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR, white blood cell count, WBC, and C reactive protein, CRP) and platelet parameters was subsequently investigated. Methods This self-controlled study included 40 patients who had positive BSTAT at least at a titer of 1/160. Platelet parameters and inlammation values (CRP, ESR) at the time of positive BSTAT at least at a titer of 1/160 (pre-treatment) were compared with control of the same parameters at the time when BSTAT became negative or when the titers reduced 4 folds (post-treatment). Results Mean platelet volume values (7.90+1.96) were signiicantly elevated in post treatment period when compared to pre treatment (7.58+1.96), (p= 0.023). Post treatment CRP, ESR and PC were signiicantly reduced when compared to pretreatment values (p=0.000, p=0.000 and p=0.025, respectively). In the pretreatment period, a direct correlation between ESR and PC values (r=0.036, p=0.025), and inverse correlations between ESR with MPV (r=-0.337, p=0.038) was found. A dependent predictive factor in multivariate logistic regression analysis for BSTAT was not found. Conclusion We suggest that PC and MPV may be inlammatory markers in brucellosis.