Objectives: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis remains to be challenging with up to 30% negative exploration rates. In addition to careful clinical history and physical examination, we still need easily applicable, cheap and effective biomarker. The aim of present study was to know that whether MPV has a role in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. It was also aimed to show the relationship of MPV with leukocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP) level.

Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective case control study. A total of 45 patients in the acute appendicitis group (adult patients who were operated for acute appendicitis and had a pathology report that confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis) and 20 patients in the control group (healthy adults of similar age) were studied. Age, gender, leukocyte count, CRP, and MPV values were recorded.

Results: The median MPV levels were 7.68± 1.42 fL in the acute appendicitis group, while 7.13 ± 1.14 fL in the control group. CRP, leukocyte count, and MPV level were significantly higher in the acute appendicitis group. MPV, leukocyte count, and CRP had a sensitivity and specificity of 67% and 52%; 92% and 73%; and 97.4% and 42%, respectively. No correlation was found between MPV, CRP, and leukocyte count.

Conclusions: MPV level was higher in patients with acute appendicitis. MPV may guide the diagnostic process of acute appendicitis. However, we detected that the sensitivity and specificity of leukocyte count were superior to those of MPV in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. We believe that further research is needed to be done to find more specific and more reliable biomarker or biomarker combination for their utilization in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis besides studies focused on MPV.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis, mean platelet volume, sensitivity, specificity.

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Dr Satyendu Sagar

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology,

Nalanda Medical College Patna, India