The association between serum YKL-40 levels, mean platelet volume, and c-reactive protein in patients with cellulitis.

BACKGROUND

Lower limb cellulitis is an infectious disease that has serious complications unless it is treated.

OBJECTIVES

In this pilot study, we evaluated whether levels of YKL-40, an acute-phase reactant, and mean platelet volume (MPV), which occurs secondary to inflammation in cellulitis, increase compared to healthy subjects. We also aimed to investigate the association between YKL-40 and MPV in the prognosis of the patients.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 55 patients with cellulitis (23 men and 32 women) and a similar age group of 46 healthy individuals (22 men and 24 women) were included in the study. Cellulitis was diagnosed according to guideline. Serum YKL-40 levels, MPV, C-reactive protein (CRP), and other biochemical values of both groups were compared.

RESULTS

YKL-40 levels (52.2±34.5 ng/mL vs 34.6±18.0 ng/mL, P=0.004), MPV (7.7±1.0 fL vs 6.9±0.7 fL, P<0.001), and CRP (9.5±8.2 mg/dL vs 0.7±0.6 mg/dL, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the patients with cellulitis than the control. The mean recovery time (RT) of the patients was 22.6±6.9 days. We found that YKL-40 (odds ratio [OR] 0.1, confidence interval [Cl] 0.028-0.191, P=0.009) and MPV (OR 2.4, Cl 0.254-4.578, P=0.029) have an independent association with RT.

CONCLUSION

YKL-40 and MPV values were correlated with higher CRP in the cellulitis group than in controls. According to these results, increased YKL-40 and MPV levels might be a prognostic factor for cellulitis in patients.