Mean Platelet Volume in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Over the years, increasing obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus have led to higher incidence and prevalence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in India, which was initially thought to be a disease of developed countries. NAFLD is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the western countries and now it is in rapid rise in India. Liver biopsy is a gold standard in NAFLD diagnosis. As liver biopsy is an invasive procedure various noninvasive markers are being explored to assist in diagnosis of NAFLD. One such promising marker which is being studied is Mean Platelet Volume (MPV). Nevertheless, studies utilizing MPV for the diagnosis of NAFLD are rare. Aim and Objectives: To measure levels of MPV in NAFLD patients and compare with healthy controls. Material and Methods: A total of 86 subjects, 43 NAFLD and 43 healthy controls, were included. Baseline variables, laboratory parameters and MPV recorded were compared between both the groups. Results: Demographic variables [Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference], laboratory variables (total leukocyte count, plateletcrit, MPV), liver function tests (alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutaryl transferase) and lipid parameters (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein) were significantly higher in the NAFLD group. MPV correlated positively with aspartate aminotransferase (r: 0.2834, p=0.0082), alanine transferase level (r: 0.2834; p=0.0082) and the presence of NAFLD (0.6019; p<0.001). After adjusting all the covariates, only NAFLD was found to be the independent predictor of increased MPV [Odds Ratio (OR) =8.22 95% Confidence Interval (CI)(2.75 - 27.95) P < 0.001]. A cut‐off MPV >10.6 fL yielded 72.09% sensitivity, 76.74% specificity, 75.61% positive predictive value and 73.33% negative predictive value. Conclusion: The study results show an increase in MPV in patients with NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]