The Mean Platelet Volume Combined with Procalcitonin as an Early Accessible Marker Helps to Predict the Severity of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants

Figures & data

Table 1 The Baseline Clinical Characteristics of the Severe, Mild-Moderate Groups

	Severe (n = 18)	Mild-Moderate (n = 57)	P
Gender (male, n%)	10 (55.56)	32 (56.14)	0.965
Gestational age (week)	33.06 (30.25–36.14)	33.69 (31.79–35.79)	0.519
Birth weight (g)	1736.11 ± 560.67	1887.37 ± 532.33	0.303
Age of onset (days)	14.44 (4.75–21.25)	13.58 (5.00–19.00)	0.995
Breastfeeding (n%)	10 (55.56)	26 (45.61)	0.462
Cesarean section (n%)	13 (72.22)	46 (80.70)	0.513
PROM > 18 h (n%)	1 (5.56)	5 (8.77)	1.000
Maternal hypertension (n%)	2 (11.11)	7 (12.28)	1.000
Maternal diabetes (n%)	4 (22.22)	14 (24.56)	1.000

Notes: The continuous variables of non-normal distribution were presented as mean (quartile ranges), and normal distribution were presented as the mean value ± standard deviation. Differences in continuous variables were assessed for significance using t-test or Mann-Whitney U-tests. Categorical variables were presented as absolute numbers and percentages, and were compared using Fisher’s Exact test. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Abbreviation: PROM, premature rupture of membranes.

Table 2 Comparison of Complete Blood Count Analysis, CRP and PCT Between the Two Groups

	Severe (n = 18)	Mild-Moderate (n = 57)	P
WBC (×10^9/L)	6.61 (4.26–9.16)	9.01 (6.16–10.86)	0.036
PLT (×10^9/L)	213.61 (157.50–249.50)	266.88 (171.00–345.00)	0.077
MPV (fL)	11.72 (11.15–12.33)	10.78 (10.30–11.20)	0.000
RDW (%)	15.82 (14.63–16.68)	15.27 (14.60–16.00)	0.201
Hb (g/L)	118.94 (87.75–151.25)	134.81 (107.00–159.50)	0.072
CRP (mg/L)	36.12 (1.00–70.71)	20.23 (1.00–29.40)	0.219
PCT (ng/mL)	12.89 (1.06–21.62)	4.44 (0.38–3.27)	0.009

Notes: Continuous variables of non-normal distribution were presented as mean (quartile ranges). The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-test was applied to determine the group difference. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Abbreviations: WBC, white blood cell; PLT, platelets; MPV, mean platelet volume; RDW, red blood cell distribution width; Hb, hemoglobin; CRP, C-reactive protein; PCT, procalcitonin.

Table 3 Logistic Regression Analysis Results

	b	SE(b)	Walds	P	OR	95% CI for OR
MPV	1.824	0.494	13.646	0.000	6.194	(2.354–16.300)
PCT	0.089	0.032	7.704	0.006	1.093	(1.026–1.163)

Abbreviations: MPV, mean platelet volume; PCT, procalcitonin.

Table 4 The AUC of MPV Combined with PCT

	AUC	P	Cut-Off value	Sensitivity	Specificity	Youden Index
MPV (fL)	0.829	0.000	11.15	0.78	0.74	0.52
PCT (ng/mL)	0.706	0.009	8.09	0.56	0.88	0.43
MPV (fL) + PCT (ng/mL)	0.895	0.000	10.80, 18.57	0.78	0.90	0.67

Abbreviations: MPV, mean platelet volume; PCT, procalcitonin; AUC, area under the curve.

Figure 1 The ROC curve of MPV combined with PCT for predicting the severity of NEC.

Abbreviations: MPV, mean platelet volume; PCT, procalcitonin; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.