European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background:Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a potentially life-threatening clinical condition that
requires early intervention. Initial symptoms are generally nonspecific and may mimic several
other medical conditions. NS is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in neonatal
populations. There has been constant search of an ideal sepsis biomarker with high sensitivity,
specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), so that both the
diagnosis and exclusion of neonatal sepsis can be made at the earliest possible and appropriate
antibiotics can be started to neonate. Ideal sepsis biomarker will help in guiding us when not to
start antibiotics in case of suspect sepsis and total duration of antibiotics course in case of
proven sepsis. A combination of increased destruction and inadequate production of platelets
during sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia of the neonate may result in release of young platelets
into the circulation. An increased proportion of young platelets may result in increased Mean
Platelet Volume (MPV). Among platelet indices MPV is the most commonly studied platelet
index in neonatal sepsis. During conditions of rapid platelet turnover, increased MPV signifies
the release of larger, younger platelets into the circulation. Although MPV varies with
gestational age and chronologic age, construction of rigorous normal curves for values of the
MPV is difficult in premature infants