The mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its correlation with disease activity: a cross-sectional/case-control study.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic disease, with unknown etiology. The authors aimed in this study to determine the connection between mean platelet volume (MPV) and disease activity of SLE. Although it has been studied in other rheumatological conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, its role in adult patients with SLE needs to be defined, especially in Syria.

Materials And Methods: The authors have included in a cross-sectional study, 80 patients with SLE and 80 controls.The SLE group was divided into two groups based on their disease activity index: the active disease group and the non-active disease group.In all groups, MPV and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were analyzed. Clinical findings and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) were evaluated in all patients.

Results: MPV was significantly lower in SLE patients compared to the control group (8.49±1.2 fl and 10.0±0.5 fl, respectively) (=0.001). A decrease in MPV below the cut-off value (7.2 fl) increased the risk of active disease by an odds ratio of 9.79 (95% CI: 3.4-27.9) (<0.001).

Conclusion: MPV may be a disease activity indicator in patients with SLE. MPV is reduced in patients with active SLE and presents an inverse correlation with SLEDAI.