Higher mean platelet volume is associated with pulmonary hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an association between platelet parameters and the presence of pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) in very low birth weight infants.

Methods: Fifty preterm infants who developed PH with gestational age ≤30 weeks and birth weight ≤1500 g were analyzed retrospectively. The infants with PH were matched for gestational age and birthweight with infants without PH, who served as control group. Groups were compared in terms of demographic, clinical characteristics and for the platelet parameters. Red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR) and platelet mass were also calculated.

Results: A total of 150 premature infants were analyzed in the study, including 50 infants with PH and 100 controls. In terms of platelet parameters, the PH group had significantly lower platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and RPR (P=0.025, P<0.001, P=0.003; respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that respiratory distress syndrome (OR: 8.69; 95%[CI]: 2.71- 27.7; P<0.001) and MPV>8.1fL (OR: 2.60; 95% CI: 1.11-6.06; P=0.019) were independent risk factors for PH.

Conclusions: Our data indicated that PH was associated with the presence of RDS and higher MPV in preterm infants.