Exploring Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Count Recovery in Dengue Patients: Findings From an Observational Retrospective Clinical Study

Introduction Mean platelet volume (MPV) measures platelet size in the blood, which is important because dengue fever often leads to low platelet counts, especially during the critical phase. However, predicting when a patient's platelet count will recover is challenging due to the lack of clinical data. MPV may offer a solution as it tends to rise when platelet counts fall, suggesting a possible link to bone marrow activity. This study aims to understand how MPV changes during the three phases of dengue fever and how it relates to platelet count recovery. Successful results could provide valuable markers for clinicians, helping improve patient care and management. Material The study was carried out in the Department of Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. The patients who were admitted with dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever in the month of July 2023 were analysed. Observations A total of 130 patients were analysed. The average (avg) MPV on day one was 10.85 ± 1.56, on day three was 10 ± 1.48, and on day five was 9.80 ± 1.30. The avg. total platelet on day one was 119476.92 ± 78,107.78, on day three was 119000 ± 59962.52, and on day five was 169200 ± 100839.84. The correlation between MPV and platelet on day one was r= -0.22, p=0.011, which was statistically significant; on day three was r= -0.32, p=0.0001, which was statistically significant, and on day five was r= -0.30, p= 0.0004, which was statistically significant. Conclusion These findings suggest that as dengue fever progresses, MPV tends to increase as platelet counts decline. This information can be beneficial in clinical practice as it highlights the potential utility of MPV as a predictive marker for platelet recovery, aiding healthcare providers in the timely management of dengue patients to mitigate bleeding risks.