Evaluation of Immature Platelet Fraction (IPF) in respiratory tract infections

Background: Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a hematological parameter of automated hematological analyzer and is related to platelet cytoplasmic RNA contents. It reflects thrombopoiesis and is used as a marker of platelet activity. It has been evaluated in diseases associated with thrombocytopenia, in sepsis severity, in gestational hypertensive disorder, in risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome, in monitoring the effect of therapy with antiplatelet drugs in coronary artery diseases and bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation. We aim to evaluate IPF in respiratory tract infections. Methods: The study population consisted of 44 patients, 25 with communty-acquired pneumonia and 19 patients with aspiration pneumonia and 39 healthy controls. All patients and controls had platelet counts of more than 150x103/μl. The IPF was obtained in an automated hematology analyzer in the first 24 hours of hospitalization.The mean IPF% value was measured in patients with respiratory tract infections and in controls. Results: The mean IPF% value of patients with respiratory tract infection was 2,76% and the mean IPF% value in healthy controls was 1,72%. All patients and controls had IPF% values within the normal range (1-5%). However, there was statistically significant difference in IPF% value between patients with respiratory tract infection and controls (p Conclusions: This is the first time tha IPF is evaluated in a thoracic disease. Patients with respiratory tract infection had greater values of IPF compared to healthy controls indicating increased bone marrow platelet production. Further studies are needed to establish the role of IPF in these patients.