Aims: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the correlation between MPV and the clinical disease activity indices of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
Methods: The study consisted of 32 active RA patients (males/females: 7/25, mean age: 49+/-13) and 30 active AS patients (males/females: 15/15, mean age: 36+/-12) along with 26 osteoarthritis (OA) patients (males/females: 4/22, mean age: 52+/-8) and 29 age-matched healthy subjects (males/females: 5/24, mean age: 41+/-7) as control groups for RA and AS, respectively.
Results: MPV was significantly lower in both AS patients and RA patients with active disease as compared to controls (RA vs OA p<0.001, AS vs healthy subjects p<0.001). After treatment MPV values significantly increased in AS and RA (p<0.001 for all). However, MPV values remained somewhat lower in RA patients than OA patients (p=0.019). There was a negative correlation between MPV values and BASDAI scores in AS patients after two months of treatment (r=-0.507; p=0.004).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that assessment of MPV may provide additional information about inflammation in AS and RA.