The Potential Role of Platelet Indices and Red Cell Distribution Width in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Background:Hepatic steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma are all possible outcomes of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Some platelet function measures are strongly correlated with the incidence of insulin resistance's intensity and its associated problems. Platelet indices, including platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), red cell distribution width (RDW), and red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR), were found to be associated with the presence of many diseases. Hence, this research aimed to evaluate the significance of platelet indices and RDW in MAFLD and their possible association with the degree of liver steatosis and fibrosis.Patients and methods:This study was carried out on 220 patients who attended Tanta Tropical Medicine and fulfilled MAFLD criteria and CBC, including PC, MPV, PDW, PCT, RDW, and RPR, determined in all patients.Results:It was found that the PC was significantly decreased as the steatosis grade increased (p <0.00). There was a significant increase in MPV as the steatosis grade increased (p <0.001). PDW% also substantially increased as the steatosis grade increased (p <0.001). It also found that RDW% showed a significant increase when the steatosis grade increased (p<0.001), while PCT% showed no significant difference in its level about the steatosis grades, p= 0.917.Conclusion: MPV, PDW, RDW, and RPR may be used as non-invasive indicators for liver fibrosis and steatosis in MAFLD.