Mean platelet volume in pediatric patients infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a parameter of platelet size and activity. Research on MPV in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is not reported. Methods: This study reviewed whether there was a difference in the MPV in the results of M. pneumoniae immunoglobulin M (IgM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in 210 pediatric patients with pneumonia suspected to be caused by M. pneumoniae. Results: The MPV was significantly lower in the IgM-positive group than in the IgM- negative group (p = 0.041). Among the PCR-positive patients (n = 73), the IgM-positive group showed significantly lower MPV than the IgM-negative group (p = 0.014). Meanwhile, among the PCR-negative patients (n = 137), there was no significant difference in the MPV between the IgM-positive and negative groups (p = 0.269). Conclusions: This result suggests that pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae could be a condition associated with low MPV.