Diagnostic importance of mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet large cell ratio as screening tool in immune thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE: To determine diagnostic importance of mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (PLCR) in diagnosing cases of immune thrombocytopenia. METHODOLOGY: The study was done in Khyber Teaching hospital from January 2017 to May 2018. Cases with low platelet count of all the ages and both the genders were included in the study by non probability purposive sampling technique and were subjected to bone marrow aspiration to rule out other causes of thrombocytopenia and thus confirm the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia. The platelet indices were noted and their sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were determined for immune thrombocytopenia. Mean and standard deviation were used for quantitative data. Percentage and frequency were used to measure qualitative data. Data was analysed by SPSS. RESULTS: 84 cases with thrombocytopenia of mean age 23.4 ± 12.1 years (range 7–81 years) were included in the study. There were 38 (45.2%) males and 46 (54.8%) females. There were 40 cases of immune thrombocytopenia. The sensitivity and specificity for PDW (59.1% and 43.1%, respectively), MPV (59.1% and 52.9%, respectively), and PLCR (50% and 52.9%, respectively) were found low to be used as screening tool for immune thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: The MPV, PDW and PLCR has low sensitivity and specificity and therefore should not be used as reliable screening tool in giving preliminary diagnosis of the immune thrombocytopenia.