Is Mean Platelet Volume a New Predictor in Confirming a Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis?

Abstract

We read with interest the article by Albayrak and colleagues on mean platelet volume: a new predictor in confirming acute appendicitis diagnosis.1 In this article, they stated that mean platelet volume (MPV) was significantly decreased in patients with acute appendicitis (AA) compared to the control group. Mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width (PDW) are the platelet indices measured by automatic cell analyzer, and they are used for the differential diagnosis of both thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia,2,3 as well as to reflect the disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. There were controversies over the interpretation of changes of MPV in rheumatoid arthritis.4 Kisacik et al and Kim and Kim insisted that MPV decreased in rheumatoid arthritis,4,5 but Yazici et al on the other hand, reported that MPV increased in the same diseases.6