Platelets: A Neglected Cell in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Inflammation

Aim: There is growing recognition of the critical role of platelets in inflammation and immune responses.However, the role of platelets in lung inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear.Therefore, we aimed to investigate platelet count (PC) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in various clinical conditions in CF patients. Materials and Methods:A total of 53 pediatric patients with CF were enrolled in this study.Data was retrospectively obtained from the patients' medical records for PC and MPV, and then categorized into 6 groups according to their pulmonary exacerbation and non-pulmonary exacerbation status in chronically colonized or non-colonized patients with CF.The groups were then compared statistically. Results:The mean age of the patients was 8.015.34years with a male to female ratio of 30:23.In the acute pulmonary exacerbation period, all patients with CF had higher PC than those in a non-pulmonary exacerbation period independent of their chronic colonization status (p<0.05).However, PC was not different in non-colonized patients whether they were in acute pulmonary exacerbation or non-pulmonary exacerbation periods (p>0.05).Importantly, MPV did not show any statistical significance in any compared settings among these CF patients. Conclusion:Platelets may play an important role along with other inflammatory cells and mediators in CF lung inflammation during pulmonary exacerbations.