Mean Platelet Volume Seems to Be a Valuable Marker in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

The predictors for the development of cardiovascular diseases and peripheral arterial diseases in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were not clearly established, and there is no specific study conducted to investigate the mean platelet volume (MPV) levels in SSc patients. Therefore, this study evaluates the MPV levels in SSc and possible relationship between SSc, its clinical features and activity/severity scores, and MPV. In total, 76 SSc patients (67 women and 9 men, mean age 50.44 ± 13.21 years) diagnosed according to the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology and 45 healthy volunteers were enrolled into study. Data relating to anamnesis, physical examination, MPV, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, electrocardiography, echocardiography, high-resolution computerized tomography findings, complaints, and treatment processes were recorded into the database. Of the total cases, 17 had (22.3 %) cardiac involvement, 45 had gastrointestinal involvement (59.2 %), 47 had (61.8 %) lung involvement, 31 (32 %) had finger flexion deformity, and 27 (35.5 %) had digital ulcers at the fingertips. The mean MPV levels of SSc patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.008). The mean MPV levels of SSc patients with cardiac involvement, digital ulcers, and gangrene presence were significantly high, and lower in Ilomedin-receiving patients than in the Ilomedin naives (p < 0.05). A negative relationship was discovered between the mean MPV levels, Valentini score, and Disease Severity Index of the patients with systemic sclerosis (p = 0.006, r = -0.310; p = 0.047, r = -0.229). MPV levels were significantly elevated in SSc patients and they were negatively correlated with disease activity scores. Increased MPV levels would be a predictive marker in the diagnosis of macrovascular and microvascular disease involvement in SSc patients.