Study of Platelet Indices as Prognostic Markers in Covid-19

Background: Platelet distribution width and mean platelet volume are markers of platelet activation. Platelets are not only involved in hemostasis and coagulation, but play a signicant role in innate immunity and inammatory response. Excess production of cytokines and acute phase reactants affect megakaryopoiesis resulting in the release of immature platelets from the bone marrow altering platelet indices. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship of platelet indices in RTPCR proven COVID-19 patients and non COVID patients. Methods: An observational comparative two group cohort clinical study was conducted on 200 COVID-19 patients and 100 normal individuals. The platelet indices like Platelet count, Mean platelet volume (MPV), Platelet distribution width (PDW), Platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) and Plateletcrit (PCT) were compared among two groups. Results: Platelet count in COVID-19 patients were low (p<0.001) compared to controls. P-LCR was also signicantly decreased in COVID-19 patients in comparison to non-COVID individuals. MPV, PDW and PCT were high in COVID 19 patients in comparison to controls, but was not signicantly raised in a large number of cases. Conclusion: Platelet indices like platelet count, MPV, PDW, PLCR and PCTare simple, cost effective and easily available laboratory parameters from routinely used automated hematology analyzers which are signicantly altered in COVID-19 infection and thereby can be used as biomarkers in COVID-19.