Human blood includes many different cells (shaped elements), and they all perform certain functions. In the article, we will talk about what MPV means in a blood test and what are its normal indicators.
Platelets in the blood
Platelets are the smallest shaped elements of the blood. They do not have a core, but perform many vital functions. Their main tasks are to give the blood a certain viscosity and restore the integrity of the vascular wall in case of damage. In this case, the formation of certain substances (fibrinogens) occurs, under the influence of which platelets become active. In this state, they get the ability to flatten and stick together between themselves and with the wall of the damaged vessel, forming a thrombus (a kind of plug that closes the damaged area and helps stop bleeding).
The formation of platelets occurs in the bone marrow, and due to the fact that their life is not more than 10 days, for the normal functioning of the body it is necessary to constantly produce new cells. If the balance between the destruction of platelets and the formation of new ones is violated, a person has either a tendency to bleeding (the number of platelets decreases), or to excessive thrombosis (at high rates). A blood test determines the amount of these shaped elements in a liter or microliter. The platelet count normally varies from 180x10 9 to 320x10 9 / l in adults.
Average platelet volume
The indicators determined by the general blood test today are somewhat different from those that were several years ago. So, there are many abbreviations that are incomprehensible to uninitiated people. One of these puzzling meanings is MPV in a blood test. In fact, everything is not so complicated. Under this abbreviation is an indicator that determines the average volume of platelets.
Due to the relatively short lifespan of platelets and their constant synthesis in the blood of a person, uniform elements are always present that are at different stages of their life cycle. At the same time, young and mature cells, as well as platelets, whose life cycle is nearing completion, not only differ in size and saturation with biologically active substances, but also carry different functional loads. MPV in a blood test allows you to determine how many platelets of different sizes are in the blood at the moment.
Normal MPV
To determine the average platelet volume, blood is drawn from a vein. After that, 5 ml was examined by a cytometric fluorescence method. The result is a histogram - a curve showing MPV in a blood test. The norm of this indicator varies in the range from 7.5 to 11 fL. The histogram allows you to estimate the number of platelets of different sizes. Normally, the content of mature cells should occupy 90% of the total platelet mass, young cells - no more than 0.8%, degenerative - 0.2%, old - 5.6%. In this case, the predominance of immature elements shifts the histogram to the left, and the predominant content of old cells moves to the right. It should be borne in mind that certain changes in the MPV (blood test) indicators, a decryption of the results can also be detected with a normal amount of the absolute number of platelets.
Next, let's talk about what low and high MPV means.
Blood test: MPV downgraded
This picture can be observed if in the blood test against the background of the normal absolute number of platelets the average volume is below normal. This is manifested by a significant predominance of old cells on the histogram. In this case, a low MPV in the blood test will signal such a dangerous condition as thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100x10 9 / l), in which extensive bleeding is possible due to a decrease in blood coagulation.
The causes of this condition can be hereditary factors, diseases of the blood and other organs, the use of certain medications. In the mechanism of thrombocytopenia development, three main points are distinguished:
- reduction or cessation of the synthesis of young cells - this can occur with various pathologies of the liver, thyroid gland, anemia, intoxication caused by alcohol and other toxic substances, as well as with the intake of certain medicinal substances;
- if platelets are destroyed faster than synthesized - this may be the result of some immune pathologies (thrombocytopenic purpura), DIC, blood transfusion;
- violation of the distribution of platelet mass - in the normal state, almost half of the platelets is in a kind of depot, the role of which is the spleen, in some diseases (tuberculosis, hepatitis), the number of platelets deposited can reach 90%.
Symptoms of Low MPV
The symptomatology accompanying the situation when the MPV in the blood test is lowered is due to two factors: impaired coagulation of the blood and increased permeability of the vascular walls. Outwardly, this is manifested by the following symptoms:
- multiple subcutaneous hemorrhages, most often located on the front surface of the limbs, abdomen, chest;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- women have long and heavy menstruation;
- retinal hemorrhage.
MPV level increased
However, there are situations when, when determining MPV, a blood test (decoding) shows an excess of the normal platelet level. In some cases, their number can significantly exceed 400x10 9 / l. This condition is called thrombocytosis and can lead to quite serious pathologies associated with increased thrombosis. Distinguish between relative thrombocytosis (readings exceed the upper limit of normal by 100-200 thousand units) and critical, when the excess of normal values doubles shows a general blood test. MPV can be so elevated for various reasons, so you need to conduct a deeper examination, find out the cause of thrombocytosis and try to eliminate it.
Reasons for increasing MPV
Modern medicine allows us to determine not only the increase in the blood of the total number of platelets, but also to find out which types prevail. Often this is important for diagnosing diseases. For example, the number of young platelets rises after surgery or signals internal bleeding or prolonged blood loss. High rates of old platelets indicate an oncological process. Degenerative forms increase with impaired hematopoiesis. Thrombocytosis most often accompanies the following conditions:
- exacerbation of chronic processes in the gastrointestinal tract, bone system;
- blood diseases;
- surgical interventions;
- oncology;
- as a side effect of certain medicinal substances.
MPV in children
In general, indicators of the average platelet count in children differ from those in adults only until the age of one year. After that, the content of these blood elements has similar characteristics, regardless of gender. As for newborn children, the interval from 100 to 400x10 9 / l is considered acceptable values for them. When determining MPV in a blood test, the norm in children under one year old is 150-350x10 9 / L.
MPV during pregnancy
Pregnancy requires a woman's body to restructure all functions, and these changes primarily affect the circulatory system. The need for the formation of an additional (placental) circle of blood circulation requires an increase in the total volume of circulating blood. On average, an interval of 150-380x10 9 / l is considered normal platelet counts in a pregnant woman. However, deviations from the norm in this condition can lead to serious consequences. That is why a woman should undergo laboratory tests regularly throughout the gestation period.
If pregnancy is accompanied by severe toxicosis, then vomiting and other intestinal disorders can lead to dehydration, which, in turn, will affect the level of platelets - it will increase sharply. During pregnancy, the indicators should not exceed 400x10 9 / l, otherwise pathological processes can begin, leading to platelet adhesion and the formation of blood clots in the vascular bed. In the early stages, such pathologies can lead to fetal loss, and in the later stages, blood clots in the vessels of the legs are accompanied by the development of varicose veins. In order to avoid this, you can use orthopedic golf.
No less dangerous is a decrease in platelet count below 140x10 9 / L. In the early stages, this can trigger bleeding and even the risk of fetal loss. The manifestations of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy can be the appearance of hematomas on the body even after a few touches, bleeding gums, nosebleeds. In the later stages, thrombocytopenia can cause large blood loss during childbirth and bleeding in the baby.
Thus, the average platelet count is an important indicator of the state of the human body. It allows at an early stage to determine the possibility of a particular pathology and take measures to prevent it.