Exploring Platelet Indices as Predictors of Nephropathy Severity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Analysis.
In this cross-sectional analysis, platelet indices were significantly elevated in advanced versus early stages of diabetic nephropathy, supporting their potential as inexpensive surrogate markers of disease severity.
Background
Increased platelet activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus contributes to vascular complications, and platelet indices such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet large cell ratio (PLCR), and plateletcrit (PCT) reflect the functional and morphological status of platelets. The authors hypothesized that if these indices correlate with nephropathy severity, they could serve as cost-effective, accessible markers for assessing disease progression.
Study design
This single-center, hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 203 patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. Nephropathy was assessed using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio and staged with KDIGO guidelines, with glomerular filtration rate estimated by the MDRD formula. Platelet indices were measured on an automated analyzer, and values were compared across nephropathy stages using nonparametric tests.
Key findings
Significant differences across nephropathy stages were observed for MPV, PDW, PCT, and PLCR (Kruskal-Wallis p-values of 0.027, 0.009, 0.001, and 0.007, respectively). Pairwise comparisons showed that platelet indices were significantly elevated in advanced nephropathy stages (stages 4 and 5) compared with early stages (stages 1 and 2), with p < 0.05. Most patients (63.1%) were in early stages (1-3) at the time of assessment.
Clinical implications
The authors conclude that platelet indices correlate with the severity of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes, increasing in advanced stages, and may be useful as surrogate markers for assessing disease progression. Their ease of measurement and low cost are highlighted as advantages, though the cross-sectional single-center design limits causal and prognostic inferences.
Category
Research
Source
Cureus
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