Evaluation of mean platelet volume in children diagnosed with familial mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean Fever is a disease of MEFV gene mutations, resulting in defective produce of pyrin protein, not repressing of inflammation and proceeding pain and fever attacks. Various studies have shown that platelets are also activated in inflammatory diseases. Mean platelet volume is affected by the activated platelets. In this study, it is aimed to compare the values of mean platelet volume between Familial Mediterranean Fever and the control group of children. This study is conducted retrospectively using patient records between January 2009 - August 2011 in Abant Izzet Baysal University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, on children diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever and having treatment. Complete blood counts, blood samples anticoagulated with K3EDTA, were studied with optical method on Beckman Coulter LH 780 analyzer system. SPSS 17.0 statistical program was used for the analysis of data obtained, and p<0.05 value was considered significant in analysis. In our study group 38 patients were girls (69.1%), 17 were boys (30.9%) of totaly 55 patients. There was total of 65 children, 40 girls (61.5%), 25 boys (38.5%) in control group. When before treatment (7.46±1.17 fL) and after treatment (7.69±1.13) mean platelet volume values of study group compared with control group (7.52±0.80), in study group after treatment MPV values were found significantly higher than the control group (p=0.008). As a result of this study, it has been identified that large platelets using in inflammation area, therefore decrease of MPV and after treatment increase of MPV. It was concluded that MPV not alone as a marker of inflammation in FMF disease, clinical symptoms and signs would be evaluation appropriate in conjunction.