New platelet indices as inflammatory parameters for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To test new platelet indices for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as new acute phase reactants. MATERIAL AND METHODS In total, 120 patients with RA and 40 patients in the control group were analyzed. A DAS 28 score over 2.6 was accepted as active disease, and a DAS 28 score lower than 2.6 was accepted as under remission. Platelet distribution width, plateletcrit, and mean platelet volume were analyzed for three groups: patients with active RA, patients under remission, and the control group. RESULTS There were 72 patients with active disease and 48 patients under remission. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PTC), and platelet distribution width (PDW) scores were all statistically different among groups. In our data, PTC was found to be a positive acute phase reactant and others were negative acute phase reactants for patients with RA. CONCLUSION These new indices are cheap, widely available, and useful parameters for routine clinical rheumatology practice.