The role of mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in the prediction of placental abruption

Abstract

We determined the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in the prediction of placental abruption (PA) prior to caesarean section. Data obtained between January 2011 and July 2014 from patients (n = 33) with PA and healthy control subjects (n = 67) matched for age- and gestation-stage were analysed. Pre-operative and post-operative MPV and PDW were significantly different between the PA and control groups when cut-off values for MPV were set at 9.23; sensitivity at 87.8% and specificity at 46.2%; positive predictive value (PPV) at 48.3%; and negative predictive value (NPV) at 90.0%. When the cut-off value for PDW was set at 18.5, the sensitivity was 100% and specificity 71.6%, PPV 40.7% and NPV 59.3% for the prediction of PA. MPV and PDW levels were significantly higher in cases of PA. These results suggest that clinical evaluation of MPV and PDW displays reasonable sensitivity and specificity as a marker of PA, prompting the need for more research in this area of clinical study.

Keywords:

• Mean platelet volume
• platelet distribution width
• prediction of placental abruption
• pregnancy

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Frederick Schatz (a native English speaker, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida Tampa, FL, 33612, USA) and Dr. Umit A. Kayisli (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida Tampa, 33612, FL, USA) for contributing critical scientific reading and revision of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no relationship to declare that may create a conflict of interest.