Platelet Indices for Predicting Patient Outcomes in Post-Neurosurgical Meningitis

Platelet volume indices (PVIs) are inexpensive and readily available parameters in intensive care units (ICUs). However, their association with mortality has never been investigated in the post-neurosurgical meningitis (PNM). This study was designed to investigate the association of PVIs with mortality in PNM patients. This retrospective study was conducted in the adult patients undergone various neurosurgical procedures in a neurosurgery department at a tertiary educational medical center in Tehran from 2016 to 2017. In this study, platelet indices including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet count were measured on ICU admission. A total of 37 patients were included, 18 of whom survived (mortality rate: 50%). PDW and MPV values were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. In non-survivor patients, platelet count was significantly lower and PDW was higher at diagnosis and discharge when compared to on admission. Also, there was no significant linear correlation between Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and platelet indices. The means of these parameters showed no significant differences in CCI categories between the two patient subgroups. The obtained data revealed that the high levels of MPV and PDW in PNM are not associated with the increased risk of mortality, whereas the decrease in plateletcrit was not associated with increased risk of mortality.