Importance of Mean Platelet Volume in Predicting Cardiac Mechanics Parameters and Carotid-Intima Media Thickness in Children With End-Stage Renal Disease and Comparison With Healthy Children

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in children with ESRD. Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound are useful devices for diagnosing cardiovascular abnormalities in such patients. However, they are expensive, difficult to perform as a routine, and not available in many centers. Therefore, finding a more accessible and inexpensive method for CVD evaluation biomarkers is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) as a routine hematological parameter with cardiac mechanics characteristics in children with ESRD. Forty-two children under dialysis and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects as control group were enrolled in the study. Carotid-intima media thickness (CIMT) and echocardiographic parameters were measured in both groups. In addition, hematological and biochemical variables were evaluated in blood samples of participants. MPV was significantly higher in patients than in controls. CIMT, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), end diastolic diameter, strain rate, and global longitudinal strain were significantly different between the two groups. MPV was positively correlated with LVMI and inversely with ejection fraction. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for MPV in predicting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and abnormal CIMT were 0.65 (P = 0.07) and 0.53 (P = 0.74), respectively. MPV was correlated with some cardiac abnormalities in children with ESRD. However, it could not show appropriate predictive values in diagnosing LVH and subclinical atherosclerosis. Further studies with prospective design could shed more light in this topic.