Mean platelet volume in brucellosis: correlation between brucella standard serum agglutination test results, platelet count, and C-reactive protein.

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis, a zoonotic infection, was most widely diagnosed by the Brucella standard serum agglutination test (SAT). No previous publication has demonstrated a correlation between the degree of Brucella SAT agglutination positivity and the severity of brucellosis infection. Objective: To contribute to the clarification of the relationship between patelets and brucellosis. It is also aimed at evaluating the usefulness of the SAT titer as a measure of brucellosis severity. Material and Methods: We compared the control (n=60) and patients (n=96) groups in terms of mean platelet volume (MPV), C-reactive protein (CRP) and platelet values. Patients were grouped according to their degree of agglutination positivity titers and compared by means of CRP, MPV and platelet values. We also investigated the relationship among logarithmic values of MPV, platelet and CRP parameters for each group. Results: Although statistically meaningful difference was observed between control and patients group in terms of MPV and platelet value, there were no statistically significant differences observed among patients groups. The physiological negative correlation between MPV and platelet count was not encountered in group 2 and 3. Logarithmic values of CRP were not correlated with logarithmic values of MPV and platelet counts. Conclusion:The MPV could be a new parameter to evaluate hematologic abnormalities in patients with brucellosis. The SAT titer was not a useful measure for evaluation of the severity of brucellosis.

Could mean platelet volume be a useful marker for infectious diseases? a review of literature

“…No difference in MPV values between patient groups according to their STAT results has been found [22]. Furthermore, there are studies indicating a negative correlation or no correlation between MPV-STAT, MPV-CRP or MPV-ESR in Brucella patients [11,[22][23][24][25][26]. Except from Brucellosis patients, although MPV has been reported to be inversely correlated with CRP and ESR in a trial investigating children with diagnosis of infection or inflammatory diseases, MPV values have been found positively correlated with CRP in patients with cellulitis and in children with urinary tract infection [13,14,27].…”

“…Compared with controls, lower MPV levels in patients with brucellosis, or higher MPV levels in children with brucella arthritis, or lastly similiar MPV levels in acute brucellosis patients have been showed [11,[22][23][24][25]. There are also trials showing lower MPV values in Brucella patients with splenomegaly or indicating no significantly difference in MPV levels compared with patients without splenomegaly [11,23].…”

“…No difference in MPV values between patient groups according to their STAT results has been found [22]. Furthermore, there are studies indicating a negative correlation or no correlation between MPV-STAT, MPV-CRP or MPV-ESR in Brucella patients [11,[22][23][24][25][26].…”

A case report of isolated thrombocytopenia induced by brucellosis

“…If brucellosis is suspected, the best medical plan is a full course of antibrucellosis antibiotic therapy. If the immune reactions are suspected, adding a corticosteroid such as prednisolone may bring the best possible results [12]. We presented a known case of brucellosis which had severe isolated thrombocytopenia.…”

“…It is documented that an immune response is activated in the course of brucellosis which alternatively may cause an autoimmune hemolysis and destruction of platelets. A series of actions that may finally lead to the hemorrhagic purpura have been detected in some cases [9,11,12]. This purpuric thrombocytopenia is reported to be severe enough to even cause mucosal bleeding, epistaxis, gingival bleeding and even hematuria [5].…”