ROLE OF MEAN PLATELET VOLUME IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been a significant clinical challenge in hospitalized patients. Early identification of individuals likely to deteriorate remains difficult. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a routinely available haematological parameter, reflects platelet reactivity and has drawn interest as a possible indicator of disease burden. However, its relevance in AKI remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate mean platelet volume in  acute kidney injury patients and to examine its variation with disease severity. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Pathology of a tertiary care center and included 100 patients with AKI. Demographic and laboratory parameters, including MPV, platelet count, and serum creatinine, were recorded at admission. Patients were stratified into favourable and unfavourable outcome groups based on clinical course. Appropriate statistical tests were performed, with a p-value <0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the 100 patients, 68 had favourable outcomes, while 32 experienced unfavourable outcomes. MPV values were notably higher among patients with unfavourable outcomes. An increase in MPV was also observed, along with higher serum creatinine levels and greater disease severity. Patients with elevated MPV tend to require dialysis or have adverse clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Elevated mean platelet volume appears to be associated with poorer outcomes in acute kidney injury settings. Given its routine availability and low cost, MPV was useful in early risk assessment in this population.