Platelet indices in Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms

Introduction: Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph-MPN): polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are characterized by an increased rate of thrombosis complications partly due to platelets activation. Large platelets are more active, have an enhanced procoagulant function and have a pathogenic role in arterial and venous thrombosis. In our study we tried to establish if platelet volume indices (MPV, PDW, P-LCR) issued from automated complete blood count determination are significantly different in Ph-MPN patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Materials and methods: Blood cell counts including platelet volume indices were assessed for 102 Ph-MPN and 102 healthy subjects using the impedance method on Sysmex XS 1000i and glucose and lipid profile, were assessed on Architect c 8000. Assessement of JAK2V617 positivity was conducted with amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR), in whole peripheral blood. Results: Platelet volume indices (PVI) measured with the impedance based method, did not show significant differences in Ph-MPN patients in comparison to healthy controls. We noticed a moderate correlation between these indices and the presence of JAK2V617F mutation. PVI were increased in the small subgroup of patients treated with anagrelide and decreased in patients treated with simvastatin, comparatively with untreated patients. Conclusion: In our study we did not find a significant difference between platelet volume indices from Ph-MPN patients and healthy subjects. Further studies are required to demonstrate correlations between platelet volume indices and JAK2 V617F mutation, treatment with anagrelide and statins, respectively.