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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
Published on: November 8, 2024
Increased mean platelet volume in children with sepsis as a predictor of mortality
Rana İşgüder1, Gökhan Ceylan1, Hasan Ağın1
1Departments of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) levels and increasing MPV during sepsis in children are associated with a higher risk of 28-day mortality. These MPV parameters, along with platelet count, can serve as early indicators for sepsis mortality prediction.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Hematology
- Sepsis research
Background:
- Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in children.
- Early identification of mortality risk factors in pediatric sepsis is crucial.
- Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count are readily available hematological parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between MPV levels and platelet counts with 28-day mortality in pediatric sepsis.
- To evaluate MPV at admission (MPVadm), at 72 hours (MPV72h), and the change in MPV (ΔMPV72h-adm) as predictors of mortality.
- To determine the predictive value of these parameters for early sepsis diagnosis and mortality risk.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 186 children with sepsis.
- Comparison of MPV and platelet counts between survivors and nonsurvivors.
- Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis to assess predictive values.
- Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test for survival association.
Main Results:
- Septic children had significantly higher MPV values than healthy controls.
- Nonsurvivors exhibited significantly higher MPVadm, MPV72h, ΔMPV72h-adm, and lower platelet counts compared to survivors.
- MPVadm, MPV72h, ΔMPV72h-adm, platelet count, and need for mechanical ventilation were significant predictors of 28-day mortality.
- ROC analysis identified cutoff values for MPVadm (9 fL), MPV72h (9.86 fL), and ΔMPV72h-adm (0.79) associated with survival.
Conclusions:
- Elevated MPV at admission and an increase in MPV during sepsis are linked to higher mortality risk in children.
- MPVadm, MPV72h, and ΔMPV72h-adm show potential as rapid and reliable markers for early sepsis diagnosis and mortality prediction.
- Further research with larger pediatric cohorts is recommended to validate these findings for clinical application.
Abstract:
Our aim is to investigate the correlation between the mean platelet volume (MPV) levels and platelet counts of the septic children with 28-day mortality risk. MPV at admission (MPV < sub > adm < /sub > ), MPV at 72 < sup > nd < /sup > hour (MPV < sub > 72h < /sub > ) and the difference between these two parameters (ΔMPV < sub > 72h-adm < /sub > ) and platelet counts were recorded retrospectively. The control group consisted of 100 healthy children matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. One hundred eighty six children were enrolled into the study. The study group had significant higher MPV values than those of control group. There were 156 survivors and 32 nonsurvivors in study group with a mortality rate of 17%. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher MPV < sub > adm < /sub > (p: 0.001), MPV < sub > 72h < /sub > (p: 0.001), ΔMPV < sub > 72h-adm < /sub > (p < 0.001) and lower platelet count (p: 0.002) than survivors. MPVadm (OR 2.39), MPV < sub > 72h < /sub > (OR 4.23), ΔMPV < sub > 72h-adm < /sub > (OR 6.4), platelet count (OR 7.3), and need for mechanical ventilation support (OR 9.76) had significant effect on 28-day mortality risk at logistic regression analysis. At the receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) the cutoff values for MPV < sub > adm < /sub > , MPV < sub > 72h < /sub > , and ΔMPV < sub > 72h-adm < /sub > were found to be 9 fL, 9.86 fL, and 0.79, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test proved that these cutoff values were significantly associated with the time of survival. Septic children who had high MPV levels at admission and whose MPV levels increased during follow up had higher risk of mortality. With the results of further researches targetting large groups of pediatric patients, MPV < sub > adm < /sub > , MPV < sub > 72h < /sub > , and ΔMPV < sub > 72h-adm < /sub > values can be fast and reliable markers for early diagnosis of sepsis and mortality prediction.
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