Ratio of mean platelet volume to platelet count is a potential surrogate marker predicting liver cirrhosis

AIM: To provide a simple surrogate marker predictive of liver cirrhosis (LC). Factors differing significantly in univariate analyses were entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: = 202) in prothrombin activity, concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, cholinesterase, type IV collagen, hyaluronic acid, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min, maximal removal rate of technitium-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin and ratio of mean platelet volume to platelet count (MPV/PLT). Multivariate analysis showed that prothrombin activity, concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and hyaluronic acid, and MPV/PLT ratio were factors independently predictive of LC. The area under the curve value for MPV/PLT was 0.78, with a 0.8 cutoff value having a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 78%. CONCLUSION: The MPV/PLT ratio, which can be determined simply from the complete blood count, may be a simple surrogate marker predicting LC.