CORRELATION BETWEEN MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Abstract

Background: Iron inhibits megakaryopoiesis so iron deficiency anemia (IDA) leads to microthrombosis. Iron therapy ameliorates thrombocytosis. In this study, we investigated whether young, active, and large platelets are released into peripheral blood during iron treatment. Mean platelet volume (MPV) was measured as an indicator for the presence of these platelets.

Materials and Methods: A total of 80 patients (10 males and 70 females) with IDA were included in this retrospective study. IDA was defined as ferritin level <50 ng/mL with a transferrin saturation <20% or ferritin <15 ng/mL. Daily ferrous sulfate (270 mg iron II sulfate and    80 mg of elemental iron) was given orally to patients. We evaluated retrospectively the hematologic and biochemical parameters prior to and 1 month after iron treatment.

Results: the mean ferritin level of the pretreatment group was 6.5 ± 4.0 ng/mL, MPV was

7.9 ± 1.5 fL, hemoglobin (Hb) was 9.8 ± 1.5 g/dL and the mean cellular volume (MCV) was 71.2 ± 7.2 fL. The mean ferritin level of the posttreatment group was 40.3 ± 15.2 ng/mL, MPV was 8.6 ± 2.0 fL, Hb was 12.5 ± 6.6 g/dL, and MCV was 77.6 ± 5.4 fL. The levels of ferritin (P < 0.001), MPV (P < 0.001), MCV (P < 0.001), and Hb (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the posttreatment group compared to the pretreatment group.

Conclusion: There may be an increase in thrombotic events due to hypercoagulability related to microthrombosis during IDA. Even though thrombosis is corrected during iron treatment, the therapy increases the release of large and active thrombocytes into the peripheral blood.

Keywords: Iron, iron deficiency anemia, mean platelet volume, thrombocytosis, thrombosis