Mean Platelet Volume as a Complementary Non-Invasive Biomarker for Disease Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Single Centre Study

Aims: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been a potential biomarker for disease activity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with an observed inverse relationship between MPV and disease activity. The study aims to investigate MPV as a complementary biomarker for disease activity in IBD.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Kuala Lumpur, between January 2019 and December 2019.

Methodology: We retrospectively enrolled and evaluated 88 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 52 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Various disease scores, such as Modified Trulove Witt’s Severity Index (MTWSI) and Mayo Endoscopic Sub-score (MES) in UC, and Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD) in CD were analyzed with various blood parameters to identify potential associations and correlations.

Results: There was no statistically significant association found between mean MPV and MTWSI or MES in UC. Clinically moderate to severe UC has higher total white cell count than those with mild disease (P=0.0162). No significant correlation was found between MPV and CDAI or SES-CD in CD (P>0.05). Clinically active disease in CD had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (P=0.0450), platelet albumin ratio (PAR) (P=0.0369), and lower albumin (P=0.0011) than those in asymptomatic remission. The study identified a significant correlation between SES-CD with CRP (r=0.5101, P=0.0003), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=0.3243, P=0.0386), albumin (r=–0.4798, P=0.0008), and PAR (r=0.3379, P=0.0232).

Conclusion: We do not recommend MPV as a complementary biomarker for IBD disease activity. More prospective large cohort studies are needed to examine its reliability. The PAR should be considered as a predictor of IBD disease activity in future prospective studies.