Evaluation of Mean Platelet Volume in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Relation With Severity of Disease

Background and Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. To the best of our knowledge, inflammation is considered as the main stimulant of platelets, and there is an association between the mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet reactivity. Increased platelet counts may be observed during the clinical active stages of RA patients and reduce in the remission period. The present study investigated the role of platelet indices in RA and its relationship with disease activity. Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study, which was performed on 105 patients with RA and 35 participants as control group referred to Ghaem hospital of Mashhad in 2017. The participants were divided into 4 groups, including 1) the patients with newly diagnosed RA, 2) the patients with active RA, 3) the patients in remission, and 4) the controls. After completing the interview and questionnaire, 10 cc blood samples were obtained from all the subjects. The platelet number (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) was measured. Results:The mean age of the participants was 49.06±11.08 years. MPV was higher in patients with RA than healthy control group (p