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 values.
Platelets in blood
Platelets are the smallest formed elements of the blood. They do not have a nucleus, but perform many vital functions. Their main tasks are to give blood a certain viscosity and restore the integrity of the vascular wall when it is damaged. In this case, the formation of certain substances (fibrinogens) occurs, under the influence of which platelets pass into an active form. In this state, they acquire the ability to flatten and stick together with each other 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 no more than 10 days, the normal functioning of the body requires constant production of new cells. If the balance between destructionplatelets and the formation of new ones is disturbed, a person has either a tendency to bleed (the number of platelets decreases), or to excessive thrombus formation (at high rates). A blood test determines the amount of these formed elements in a liter or microliter. The platelet count normally varies from 180x109 to 320x109/l in adults.
Mean platelet count
The indicators determined by the general blood test are somewhat different today from those that were a few years ago. So, many abbreviations appeared that are incomprehensible to uninitiated people. One such mysterious value is MPV in a blood test. In fact, everything is not so difficult. This abbreviation hides an indicator that determines the average platelet count.
Due to the relatively short lifespan of platelets and their constant synthesis in human blood, formed elements are always present at different stages of their life cycle. At the same time, young and mature cells, as well as platelets, whose life cycle is already nearing completion, not only differ in size and saturation with biologically active substances, but also carry a different functional load. 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 volume of platelets, blood is taken from a vein. After that, 5 ml are examined by cytometric fluorescentmethod. 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 evaluate the number of platelets of different sizes. Normally, the content of mature cells should occupy 90% of the total platelet mass, young - no more than 0.8%, degenerative - 0.2%, old - 5.6%. At the same time, the predominance of immature elements shifts the histogram to the left, and the predominant content of old cells to the right. It should be borne in mind that certain changes in MPV (blood test) indicators can be detected by deciphering the results even with a normal amount of absolute platelet count.
Next, let's talk about what lower and higher MPV means.
Blood test: MPV lowered
This picture can be observed if in a blood test against the background of a 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 100x109/l), in which extensive bleeding is possible due to a decrease in blood clotting.
The causes of this condition can be hereditary factors, diseases of the blood and other organs, the use of certain medications. There are three main points in the mechanism of development of thrombocytopenia:
- decrease or cessation of the synthesis of young cells - this can occur whenvarious pathologies of the liver, thyroid gland, anemia, intoxication caused by alcohol and other toxic substances, as well as when taking certain drugs;
- if platelets are destroyed faster than they are synthesized - this may be the result of some immune pathologies (thrombocytopenic purpura), DIC, blood transfusions;
- violation of the distribution of platelet mass - in the normal state, almost half of the platelets are in a kind of depot, the role of which is played by the spleen, in some diseases (tuberculosis, hepatitis), the number of deposited platelets can reach 90%.
Symptoms of low MPV
The symptoms accompanying situations when MPV in the blood test is lowered are due to two factors: a violation of blood coagulation mechanisms and increased permeability of the vascular walls. Outwardly, this is manifested by the following signs:
- multiple subcutaneous hemorrhages, most often located on the anterior surface of the limbs, abdomen, chest;
- frequent nosebleeds;
- women have long and heavy periods;
- retinal hemorrhages.
MPV increased
However, there are situations when, when determining MPV, a blood test (decoding) shows an excess of the normal level of platelets. In some cases, their number can significantly exceed 400x109/l. This condition is called thrombocytosis and can lead toto quite serious pathologies associated with increased thrombus formation. There are relative thrombocytosis (indications exceed the upper limit of the norm by 100-200 thousand units) and critical, when a general blood test shows an excess of normal values by half. MPV can be so high for various reasons that it is necessary to conduct a deeper examination, find out the cause of thrombocytosis and try to eliminate it.
Reasons for increasing MPV
Modern medicine allows you to determine not only an increase in the total number of platelets in the blood, but also to find out which types of platelets prevail. Often this is important for diagnosing diseases. So, for example, the number of young platelets increases after surgery or signals internal bleeding or prolonged blood loss. High levels of old platelets indicate an oncological process. Degenerative forms increase with violations of the hematopoietic process. Thrombocytosis most often accompanies the following conditions:
- exacerbation of chronic processes in the gastrointestinal tract, skeletal system;
- blood diseases;
- surgical interventions;
- oncology;
- as a side effect of certain drugs.
MPV in children
In general, mean platelet counts in children differ from those in adults only under one year of age. After that, the content of these blood elements has similar characteristics, regardless of gender. As for newbornschildren, then their acceptable values are the interval from 100 to 400x109/l. When determining MPV in a blood test, the norm in children under one year old is 150–350x109/l.
MPV during pregnancy
Pregnancy requires a woman's body to restructure all functions, and these changes primarily affect the circulatory system. The need to form an additional (placental) circulation requires an increase in the total volume of circulating blood. On average, the range of 150–380x109/l is considered normal in a pregnant woman. However, deviations from the norm in this state can lead to serious consequences. That is why, throughout the entire period of pregnancy, a woman should regularly undergo laboratory tests.
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 rise sharply. During pregnancy, the indicators should not exceed 400x109/l, otherwise pathological processes may begin, leading to platelet adhesion and the formation of blood clots in the vascular bed. In the early stages, such pathologies can lead to the loss of the fetus, and in the later stages they are fraught with the occurrence of blood clots in the vessels of the legs, accompanied by the development of varicose veins. In order to avoid this, you can use orthopedic golfs.
No less dangerous and lower platelet count140х109/l. In the early stages, this can provoke bleeding and even the risk of fetal loss. Manifestations of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy can be the appearance of hematomas on the body even after small touches, bleeding gums, nosebleeds. In the later stages, thrombocytopenia can cause large blood loss during childbirth and the occurrence of bleeding in the child.
Thus, the average level of platelets is an important indicator of the state of the human body. It allows you to determine the possibility of a particular pathology at an early stage and take measures to prevent it.
