Diagnostic Value of the Mean Platelet Volume in the Prediction of Respiratory Syncytial virus in Acute Bronchiolitis

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) is an important pathogen of childhood that causes lower respiratory system infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the mean platelet volume (MPV) changes are significant in the prediction of bronchiolitis with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viruses.
METHODS: A standard protocol was followed, and 184 patients were divided into groups based on being RSV positive and other respiratory viruses positive. Using the ROC, diagnostic accuracy was evaluated according to the AUC for the diagnosis of bronchiolitis. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: MPV was significantly lower in patients with single RSV (6.6 ± 1.1 vs. 7 ± 1.2, P < 0.05). The MPVs were similar in patients with positive and negative RSV bronchiolitis (6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 7 ± 1.3, P > 0.05) and other viruses. ROC curve analysis suggested that MPV level cut-off point for making the diagnosis of single RSV bronchiolitis was 6.63 fL with a sensitivity, specificity of 55%, 63% respectively. The median AUC was 0.384 for the MPV (95 % CI 0.270-0.499, P = 0.04).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Mean platelet volume may be a useful marker to provide a prediction on single Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. However, measurement of mean platelet volume might not be correct and sufficient to provide a prediction on type of respiratory viruses in bronchiolitis.