Platelet indices as markers of inflammation in systemic sclerosis patients: Relation to vascular endothelial growth factor and flow mediated dilatation

Aim of the work To evaluate platelet indices in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and identify their clinical significance as novel inflammatory biomarkers in correlation to markers of endothelial dysfunction: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Patients and methods Thirty-five SSc patients were enrolled in addition to 35 age and sex matched healthy volunteers as controls. All patients and controls underwent full medical history taking, thorough clinical examination, assessment of severity extent of skin sclerosis using the modified Rodnan skin score (mRss), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C- reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count with special consideration to mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width and platelets count, assay for serum VEGF concentration, and brachial FMD assessment by color duplex sonography. Results There was a highly significant decrease in the mean MPV in SSc patients compared to the controls (8.65 ± 0.6 fl vs. 9.55 ± 0.52 fl). There was a significant increase in the mean platelet count in SSc patients compared to controls (331.63 ± 64.66 × 103/ml vs. 297.80 ± 44.48 × 103/ml). In SSc patients, a significant negative correlation was found between the mean MPV and each of ESR, CRP and VEGF (r = −0.42, r = −0.37 and r = −0.55 respectively, p < .05); and a significant positive correlation was found between the mean MPV and mean FMD (r = 0.38, p < .05). Linear regression test, showed an association between mean MPV and each of ESR and CRP (t = −3.31, −2.92 respectively, p < .05). Conclusion MPV levels could be an easily measurable parameter to reflect the inflammatory condition in systemic sclerosis patients.