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The association between mean platelet volume and infants with meconium stained amniotic fluid
M Tekin1, C Konca, Z Kahramaner
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey. drmehmettekin@hotmail.com.
Objective:
The exact pathophysiology of meconium passage into the amniotic fluid is unknown, but it is frequently associated with fetal hypoxia. The mean platelet volume (MPV) seems to be a marker of platelet production and consumption and may be related to the severity of some diseases associated with bone marrow, hypoxia, and perinatal infections. We aimed to investigate the association between MPV levels and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in infants.
Patients And Methods:
MPV, serum-reactive protein and hemoglobin levels, and leukocyte and thrombocyte counts were measured in 106 infants with MSAF and a comparison group of 78 healthy control infants.
Results:
The mean MPV values of the infants with MSAF were statistically significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the hemoglobin levels or leukocyte and thrombocyte counts in the study group compared to the control group (p > 0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference in the MPV levels of the infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) compared to the infants with MSAF without MAS (p = 0.107). The optimal cut-off value for the MPV was 9.90 fl (area under the curve [AUC: 0.788]) in the infants with MSAF, with a sensitivity of 78.1% and specificity of 74.3%.
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that the MPV levels of infants with MSAF were significantly lower than those of healthy infants. This might be associated with a hypoxic process. However, the MPV levels of infants with MSAF and MAS were statistically similar. Thus, the MPV level could not be used to detect patients with or without severe disease.
Insights
Infants with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) had significantly lower mean platelet volume (MPV) levels compared to healthy infants. This MPV marker may indicate hypoxia but cannot differentiate severe meconium aspiration syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Hematology
- Perinatal Research
Background:
- Meconium passage into amniotic fluid is linked to fetal hypoxia, though its pathophysiology is not fully understood.
- Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet production and consumption, potentially reflecting conditions like hypoxia and perinatal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between MPV levels and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in infants.
- To determine if MPV can serve as a marker for MSAF and its severity.
Main Methods:
- MPV, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, leukocyte, and thrombocyte counts were measured in 106 infants with MSAF and 78 healthy controls.
- Statistical analysis compared MPV levels between MSAF infants and controls, and between MSAF infants with and without meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).
Main Results:
- Infants with MSAF exhibited significantly lower mean MPV values than the control group (p < 0.001).
- No significant differences were found in hemoglobin, leukocyte, or thrombocyte counts between groups.
- MPV levels did not differ significantly between infants with MSAF and MAS versus those with MSAF without MAS (p = 0.107).
- An MPV cut-off of 9.90 fl showed 78.1% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity for MSAF.
Conclusions:
- Lower MPV levels in infants with MSAF suggest a potential association with hypoxic processes.
- MPV levels alone are insufficient to distinguish infants with MSAF who develop MAS from those who do not.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of MPV in perinatal hypoxia and MSAF complications.
