@article{3191588,
    title = "Evaluation of Immature Platelet Fraction in Lower Respiratory Tract
Infections: A Retrospective Study",
    author = "Georgakopoulou, Vasiliki E. and Mermigkis, Dimitrios and Mantzouranis, and Konstantinos and Damaskos, Christos and Melemeni, Despoina and Alafaki, and Eleni A. and Petsinis, Georgios and Garmpis, Nikolaos and Karakou, and Evgenia and Garmpi, Anna and Lekkakou, Agathi and Sklapani, Pagona and and Trakas, Nikolaos and Chatzikyriakou, Rea and Tsiafaki, Xanthi",
    journal = "CUREUS",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "12",
    number = "7",
    publisher = "CUREUS INC",
    doi = "10.7759/cureus.9227",
    keywords = "platelets; respiratory infections; immature platelet fraction",
    abstract = "Introduction
Immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a parameter of an automated
hematologic analyzer and is related to platelet size and cytoplasmic RNA
content. It reflects thrombopoiesis and is often used as the marker of
platelet activity. IPF has been evaluated mostly in hematologic
disorders and has also been evaluated in patients with gestational
hypertension, sepsis, autoimmune diseases and in hospitalised patients
with neutrophilia. Platelets, asides from the maintenance of hemostasis,
release inflammatory mediators that can modify leukocyte and endothelial
responses to various inflammatory stimuli. Lower respiratory tract
infections are the leading cause of death from infections worldwide. The
role of platelets in lower respiratory tract infections has been
reported in many studies. IPF, which is related to platelet activation,
has not been evaluated in patients with lower respiratory tract
infections.
Methods
The study involved patients who fulfilled the criteria of
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and aspiration pneumonia (AP). In
addition, age and sex-matched healthy controls were involved. Whole
blood samples were collected from healthy controls and from the patients
on admission. The mean IPF% and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were
measured in patients with CAP, in patients with AP and in healthy
controls. The mean IPF% values in patients with infection were compared
to mean IPF% values in healthy controls. The mean IPF% values were
compared to mean CRP levels in patients with infection. Additionally,
the mean IPF% values in patients that died in the first 14 days were
compared to the mean IPF% values in patients that were alive. The
statistical analysis of data was performed with the Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 13.0 (SPSS Inc,
Chicago, IL).
Results
The study population consisted of 45 patients (27 patients with CAP and
18 patients with AP), 27 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 72.11
+/- 16.4 years and 39 healthy controls, 22 males and 17 females with a
mean age of 64.2 +/- 14.8 years. The mean CRP levels in patients with
infection were 155.2 +/- 119.1 mg/dl. The mean IPF% value of patients
with infection was 2.76 +/- 2.27 and the mean IPF% value of controls
was 1.72 +/- 0.77 (p < 0.006). The IPF% value in patients with CAP was
2.55 +/- 2.02 and in patients with AP 3.07 +/- 2.64 (p = 0.595). The
mean IPF% value in patients with infection had no linear correlation
with CRP value in these patients (r = 0.076, p = 0.62). The mean IPF%
value in all patients that died in the first 14 days was 3.75 +/- 2.44
and the mean IPF% value in all patients alive was 2.35 +/- 2.11 (p =
0.06). The mean IPF% value in patients with CAP who died in the first
14 days of hospitalisation was 5.54 +/- 3.17 and in patients with CAP
who were alive was 1.87 +/- 0.72 (p = 0.06). The mean IPF% value in
patients with AP who died was 2.63 +/- 0.85 and in patients with AP who
were alive was 3.41 +/- 3.51 (p = 0.554).
Conclusions
Mean IPF% value is greater in patients with lower respiratory tract
infections, including CAP and AP, compared to healthy controls. There is
no linear correlation between IPF values and CRP values in patients with
lower respiratory tract infections. In addition, there is a difference
in mean IPF% value between patients who died in the first 14 days of
hospitalisation compared to those who were alive, but not statistically
significant."
}