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World J Clin Infect Dis. Feb 25, 2017; 7(1): 6-10
Published online Feb 25, 2017. doi: 10.5495/wjcid.v7.i1.6
Platelet indices in neonatal sepsis: A review
Ramesh Bhat Y
Ramesh Bhat Y, Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Karnataka 576104, India
Author contributions: Bhat Y R conceptualized the review topic and wrote the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest associated with this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Dr. Ramesh Bhat Y, MBBS, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104, India. docrameshbhat@yahoo.co.in
Telephone: +91-96-86401313 Fax: +91-82-02571934
Received: August 29, 2016
Peer-review started: September 1, 2016
First decision: September 29, 2016
Revised: October 20, 2016
Accepted: December 13, 2016
Article in press: December 14, 2016
Published online: February 25, 2017
Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological abnormality in neonates with sepsis. The autoanalyzers now-a-days readily provide platelet indices along with platelet counts without any additional cost. However these indices are not given proper weightage often. The important platelet indices available for clinical utility include mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width and plateletcrit that are related to morphology and proliferation kinetics of platelets. Studies in adult patients reported their role in the diagnosis of severe sepsis and prognosis of adverse clinical outcomes including mortality. Abnormal MPV can aid diagnosing the cause of thrombocytopenia. Low MPV associated with thrombocytopenia has been found to result in clinical bleeding. Other indices, however, are less studied. The studies addressing the importance of these platelet indices in neonatal sepsis are limited. The current review gives an overview of potential utility of important platelet indices in neonatal sepsis.

Keywords: Sepsis, Platelet indices, Thrombocytopenia, Bleeding, Neonate

Core tip: Sepsis in neonates often results in thrombocytopenia and changes in platelet indices. The important platelet indices such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width and plateletcrit are related to morphology and proliferation kinetics of platelets. All these indices are readily available with no additional cost while performing routine blood counts using autoanalyzers. Studies in adult patients reported the potential role of platelet indices in the diagnosis of severe sepsis and prognosis of adverse clinical outcomes including mortality. Abnormal MPV can aid diagnosing the cause of thrombocytopenia. Low MPV associated with thrombocytopenia has been found to result in clinical bleeding. The current review gives an overview of potential utility of important platelet indices in neonatal sepsis.