Could thrombocyte parameters be an inflammatory marker in the brucellosis?

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 inflammation 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 inflammation 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 significantly elevated in post treatment period when compared to pre treatment (7.58+1.96), (p= 0.023). Post treatment CRP, ESR and PC were significantly 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 inflammatory markers in brucellosis.