Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Respiratory syncytial virus infection is strongly correlated with decreased mean platelet volume
Andrew A Renshaw1, Barbara Drago, Norma Toraya
1Department of Pathology, Homestead Hospital, Homestead, Florida, USA; Department of Pathology, Baptist Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA. andrewr@baptisthealth.net
Background:
To date, infections have usually been associated with elevations of the mean platelet volume. We correlated infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with changes in mean platelet volume (MPV).
Methods:
A consecutive series of patients with positive and negative rapid RSV assays and viral cultures, as well as children under 10 years of age with bronchoscopy for pneumonia or airway obstruction, were compared.
Results:
The MPV was significantly lower in patients with positive versus negative rapid RSV assays (9.7±0.8 vs. 10.5±0.9 fl, p<0.001), as well as viral cultures (9.9±1.0 vs. 10.5±1.0 fl, p<0.001). Children with RSV undergoing bronchoscopy (n=7) also had significantly lower MPV than children without RSV (n=79) (8.8±1.0 vs. 10.2±1.1 fl, p<0.004). An MPV <8.9 fl had a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 49% for RSV in children undergoing bronchoscopy.
Conclusions:
We conclude that infection with RSV is associated with decreased MPV and this may be clinically useful in children undergoing bronchoscopy.
Related Concept Videos
Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Structure and Function of Platelets
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets, with...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Pneumonia I: Introduction

