Platelet indices: a new tool for monitoring infantile hemangioma treatment

Aims: Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign vascular tumor in childhood. Diagnosis, treatment decisionmaking, and monitoring of the treatment are challenging. This study aims to investigate the utilization of platelet (PLT) indices as a marker in the follow-up of IH treatment. Methods: The patients who were admitted and followed up in the outpatient clinic of Erciyes University Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology were enrolled in the study. The demographical data, treatment results, and PLT indices of the patients at certain time points were analyzed retrospectively. PLT, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were measured at various time points: upon admission, after the first and second months of treatment, at treatment completion, and during rebound episodes in affected patients. Results: A general decrease in PLT, PDW, and MPV values was noted when comparing admission levels to the first month of treatment. The mean PLT count was 452.680/mm3 at admission, it decreased to 405.900/mm3 at the 1st month, 376.600/mm3 at the 2nd month and 359.900/mm3 at the end of treatment (p: 0,002). Besides MPV was evaluated, it was observed that while the mean was 10.43 fl at the time of admission, it decreased to 9.51 fl in the following months and the decline was statistically significant with a p value of 0,031. Lastly, regarding the mean PDW values, a decline was detected once again from 11.34 % to 10.2 % between the admission time and termination of the treatment with a statistically significant p value of