[Clinical significance of platelet volume indices estimated by automated blood cell analyzer].

Clinical significance of platelet volume indices (Platelet distribution width: PDW, Mean platelet volume: MPV, Platelet large cell ratio: P-LCR) estimated by automated blood cell analyzer (Sysmex NE-8000) was studied in 29 ITP cases and 17 cases with platelet hypoproduction which diagnosis was established by platelet kinetic study, megakaryocyte counts and the amount of platelet-associated IgG. These indices were not obtained by analyzer in 48% of 23 cases with platelet count less than 50 x 10(9)/l and 23% of 31 cases with platelet counts ranged in 50-100 x 10(9)/l. The coefficient of variation (CV) of PDW, MPV and P-LCR estimated 5 times in samples with platelet count more than 100 x 10(9)/l was 2%, 1% and 2.3%, respectively. In samples with platelet count less than 50 x 10(9)/l, CV of each index increased 3 times or more. Only four out of 22 ITP cases with platelet count less than 100 x 10(9)/l showed increased platelet volume and remaining 18 cases showed normal volume. In 12 cases with platelet hypoproduction, 3 cases showed increase of platelet volume and one case showed decrease of volume. Significant correlation was observed in between PDW and platelet survival time (r = -0.41, p < 0.05) and in between PDW and platelet turnover rate (r = 0.38, p < 0.05) in 29 ITP cases. Although the various changes of platelet volume indices during recovery phase after chemotherapy were observed in cases of acute leukemia or malignant lymphoma, these one were not a characteristic change in recovery phase of platelet under-production but rather different in each individual.