Utility of Immature Platelet Fraction as Diagnostic Biomarker for Isolated Thrombocytopenia

Objective: To evaluate the utility of immature platelet fraction (IPF) as a marker in immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) patients. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Haematology, Chughtai Institute of Pathology, Lahore Pakistan, from Aug to Nov 2020. Methodology: Sixty patients (Group-1) of immune thrombocytopenia purpura were selected. Sixty healthy individuals (Group-2) with normal blood count parameters were also included. A complete blood count with simultaneous evaluation of immature platelet fraction was performed for both groups on 3ml peripheral blood collected in K2EDTA. To check the reproducibility of results, each sample was run in duplicate. Results: Group-1 had a mean platelet count of 43.77±32.82 x109 /L (range 2-98x109/L), a mean immature platelet fraction of 12.93±6.11% (range 3–25%) and a mean age 36.68±7.53 years, (range 22–56 years). Group-2 had a mean platelet count of 251.7±83.55 x109 /L (range 150-450 x109 /L), a mean immature platelet fraction of 3.78±1.86 %, (range 1-7.2%) and a mean age of 36.42±6.94 years, (range 22–55 years). ROC curve analysis yielded an immature platelet fraction value of 7.0% as the cut-off between immune thrombocytopenic purpura patients and healthy individuals. Conclusion: Immature platelet fraction, though novel, is a useful marker to diagnose and monitor treatment response, diagnosis and management of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.