Korean J Clin Pathol.  1997 Apr;17(2):201-208.

Clinical Significance of Platelet Indices in Hematologic Disorders

• Lee JH
• Moon YS
• Kim YG
• Han KJ
• Shim SI

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and megathrombocyte index (MTI) is not clear.
METHODS
We examined platelet indices in 900 cases of patients with hematologic disorders and compared them with those of the control to predict thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow. MPV and PDW were measured by Coulter Counter STKS (U.S.A). We calculated megathrombocyte index (MTI, the percentage of megathrombocytes) in the peripheral blood film using ocular micrometer, and examined megakaryocyte number in the bone marrow aspirates.
RESULTS
In patients with acute leukemia, and aplastic anemia, MPV and MTI were lower than the control but PDW was higher. In myeloproliferative disorders, all platelet indices were higher, and in ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), MPV and MTI were higher but PDW was not significantly different. MTI was higher in complete remission than initial acute leukemia. All platelet indices were not significantly different between pre- and post-BMT in AML. But in aplastic anemia, MPV and MTI were higher in post-BMT than pre-BMT. MTI was a better index to screen than MPV in the decreased megakaryocyte group, but in increased megakaryocyte group, there was no difference in screening ability between MPV and MTI.
CONCLUSIONS
The platelet indices in peripheral blood may be good markers for predicting thrombopoiesis in hematologic disorders and in post chemotherapy of acute leukemia. In addition, after BMT of aplastic anemia, these indices could be used as valuable markers of engraftment.

MeSH Terms

Anemia, Aplastic
Blood Platelets*
Bone Marrow
Drug Therapy
Humans
Leukemia
Mass Screening
Mean Platelet Volume
Megakaryocytes
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Thrombopoiesis