The role of mean platelet volume in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background While the relation of mean platelet volume (MPV) with inflammatory diseases is obvious, its role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus is not clear. Methods A total of 249 patients (nonobese, nondiabetic and not having cardiac diseases) who underwent an abdominal ultrasonography assessment were enrolled. They were divided according to the absence (group 1) or presence (group 2) of hepatic steatosis. The patients with steatosis were further divided according to the severity of steatosis as group 2a (grade 1), 2b (grade 2) and 2c (grade 3). The demographic and laboratory features were compared between groups. Results Hepatic steatosis was absent in 120 patients and detected in 129 patients (grade 1, 2, 3 hepatic steatosis in 75, 49 and 5 patients, respectively). BMI, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio and serum AST, ALT, triglyceride levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). BMI, serum AST and triglyceride levels were significant factors for NAFLD (P < 0.001, P = 0.018, P = 0.001). MPV was neither different between groups (P > 0.05) nor a predictor factor for NAFLD (P > 0.05). Conclusion MPV is a useless parameter to detect NAFLD without cardiovascular comorbidities, obesity and diabetes mellitus.