Comparison of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in Patients with Psoriasis and Healthy Individuals

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting quality of life, with evidence suggesting a role for platelets in its pathogenesis. Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activation, may serve as a biomarker for systemic inflammation. This study aimed to compare MPV levels between psoriasis patients and healthy controls to assess its clinical utility. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital, Sialkot, from October 25, 2023, to March 25, 2024, with 200 participants aged 20-60, selected via non-probability consecutive sampling. Exclusion criteria included recent surgery, obesity (BMI > 30), and cardiovascular disease. Participants were divided into psoriasis patients (n=31) and healthy controls (n=169). MPV was measured using a Swelab Lumi hematology analyzer, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with t-tests for group comparisons (p<0.05). Results: A total of 200 participants were included in the study, of which 15.5% were diagnosed with psoriasis. The mean MPV was significantly higher in the psoriasis group (8.86 ± 1.42 fL) compared to controls (7.23 ± 0.57 fL), with a p-value of 0.00002. This elevation in MPV suggests a potential association between platelet activation and psoriasis-related inflammation. Conclusions: This study shows a significant difference in MPV levels between psoriasis patients and healthy controls, indicating a role for platelets in psoriasis pathogenesis. Elevated MPV may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for systemic inflammation. Further research is needed to validate its clinical utility in diagnosis and management.