Mean platelet volume and varicocele: comparison between adolescents and adults

Purpose: To evaluate the association between varicocele and MPV values in pediatric and adult patients. And its association with different clinical parameters. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical charts of patients treated for varicocele at our Institution between December 2010 and December 2014. The study patients were divided into three groups: group 1-patients with varicocele without testicular hypotrophy treated for scrotal discomfort or infertility (percutaneous varicocelecomy-scheloembolization); group 2-(control group) patients without varicocele; group 3-patients with varicocele and testicular hypotrophy (laparoscopic varicocelectomy). The study compared the grade of varicocele and MPV before surgery; age-related MPV and MPV cumulative value between the groups. Results: After revision of the study 145 medical charts (group 1: 47 patients, group 2: 52 patients, group 3: 46 patients), and in compliance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria established, 127 patients were considered for the study; we evaluated 42 patients in group 1, 46 patients in group 2 and 39 patients in group 3. Patients with varicocele had higher MPV value than controls but only in adulthood. Testicular hypotrophy associated with varicocele is not a confusing factor. Conclusions: Even if MPV is higher in adults with varicocele as reported by other studies, but this result is not thrue in adolescents and its is not correlated with testicular hypotrophy; some confunding factors, i.e. andrological disease or smoking status, could be the reasons of different results present on medical literature.