Mean platelet volume and D-dimer in patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of mean platelet volume (MPV) and D-dimer for acute deep venous thromboembolism (DVT). Two hundred and fifty six patients who presented to the emergency or cardiovascular surgery department with suspected lower limb DVT were retrospectively recruited. Plasma levels of MPV, platelet count, and D-dimer were obtained and duplex sonography examination was performed for all patients. Eighty four patients had acute DVT which was diagnosed by duplex ultrasonography. MPV was significantly higher in patients with DVT than in those without DVT (p < 0.01). The mean MPV was 7.97 ± 17.8 and 7.58 ± 0.87 fL in patients with DVT and without DVT, respectively (p < 0.01). D-dimer was significantly higher in patients with DVT (p < 0.01). For all the patients, a positive MPV when the cut-off value was 7.3 fL, had 69.7 % sensitivity and 43.9 % specificity. D-dimer (with a cut-off value of 0.5 μg/mL) had 82.9 % sensitivity and 32.7 % specificity. In case of combination of MPV and D-dimer, the specificity exceeded (65.9 %) despite the reduction in sensitivity (59.2 %). Elevated MPV was found to be associated with acute DVT and high levels of MPV might increase the specificity of D-dimer for exclusion of DVT.