Background: Platelet activity is a major devilish atherothrombotic events and cancer. Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is widely available as a routine parameter of the complete blood count, is a potentially useful biomarker of platelet activity in the setting of venous thrombosis. Recent studies showed that high-MPV levels are associated with an increase VTE risk in cancer patients.

Objective: To investigate the role of MPV in VTE and colorectal-cancer.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed to analyze differences of MPV between patients with VTE, VTE and colorectal-cancer, and control. We identified comparative studies that compared the effect of MPV in VTE from PubMed and Scopus databases up to December 2017. Two reviewers independently extracted data for meta-analysis. Differences in MPV were expressed as unstandardized mean difference.

Results: Among 170 patients, 58-control, 54-VTE, and 58-VTE with colorectal-cancer, MPV was significantly higher in VTE groups. From 403 articles, 10 studies (5 cohorts and 5 case-controls) comprising 2,265 patients. MPV was significantly higher in those with VTE (mean difference 0.61 fL, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.88, p<0.001). Elevated MPV increased the relative risk of VTE (RR 1.319, 1.061 to 1.641, I2 = 82.5%).

Conclusion: Our evidence suggests that elevated MPV is associated with VTE and VTE with colorectal-cancer. A mechanistic study and RCT are required in order to use antiplatelet therapy.

Keywords: Deep vein thrombosis, Meta-analysis, Pulmonary embolism