Mean platelet volume as a marker for differentiating disease flare from infection in Behcet's disease

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between mean platelet volume (MPV) and clinical manifestations, disease activity or infection in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Methods: In total, 193 patients diagnosed with BD according to the international criteria for BD were enrolled. Demographic data, clinical manifestations and laboratory results were collected by medical interviews and reviewing medical records. Results: The female : male ratio was 2 : 1 and the age of symptom onset was 32.2 +/- 11.1 years. The age at diagnosis of BD was 44.7 +/- 11.1 years and the follow-up duration was 4.7 +/- 3.8 years. MPV at diagnosis were significantly lower than of age and sex-matched controls (8.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.2 fL, P < 0.0001). Lower MPV was not related to organ involvement except skin diseases. During follow-up, MPV was lower in BD flare than in stable BD (8.2 +/- 1.4 vs. 9.1 +/- 1.4 fL, P < 0.0001) in the same patients. MPVs were significantly higher in cases of accompanying infections than in those with both BD flare and stable BD (9.3 +/- 1.4 vs. 8.1 +/- 1.3 fL, P = 0.018 and 9.7 +/- 1.4 vs. 8.8 +/- 1.0 fL, P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: MPV was significantly lower in patients with BD than controls. MPV declined in BD flare and increased in cases of infection in same patients. MPV may be useful as a marker of BD activity and its monitoring can be helpful for differentiating BD flare from infection in BD patients.