Mean platelet volume as a potential predictor of renovascular thrombosis after renal transplant.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the importance of mean platelet volume as a marker to follow-up, the tendency for hemorrhagic diatheses, and/or thrombotic complications in patients before and after renal transplant.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four patients (aged, 5 to 18 y) were included. Demographics of the patients, cause of chronic renal failure, dialysis modality, duration of dialysis, arterio-venous fistula thrombosis, and posttransplant immunosuppressive regimens were recorded and laboratory variables were evaluated.

Results: At the end of the first posttransplant month, mean platelet volume level was decreased significantly when compared with pretransplant levels (8.3 ± 1.5 vs 7.7 ± 0.9; P = .04). A significant increase was observed in platelet levels during posttransplant measures (273.750 ± 97.700 vs 318.740 ± 84.586; P = .02). Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time levels did not differ before and after transplant. None of the patients had any thrombotic events and/or renal allograft loss. A negative correlation was observed between mean platelet volume and C-reactive protein (r=-0.53). Mean platelet volume level was not found to be related to the cause of renal failure, pretransplant dialysis modality, or posttransplant immunosuppressive regimens.

Conclusions: Platelet numbers increased and mean platelet volume decreased after pediatric renal transplant, but the potential for increased thrombosis was not observed.