Immature platelet fraction as a prognostic marker in patients with pulmonary embolism

Introduction: Immature platelet fraction (IPF), a population of young platelets with distinct histological and functional characteristics, has been associated with adverse outcomes in several cardiovascular diseases. However, data on the role of IPF in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of IPF levels in patients with acute PE.

Methods: We included 171 patients admitted to a tertiary care center intensive cardiovascular care unit (ICCU) from July 2019 to August 2024, all with a confirmed diagnosis of acute PE and a complete blood count upon admission. IPF measurement was carried out using an autoanalyzer (Sysmex XE-2100). The correlation between IPF level and outcome of all-cause mortality was assessed.

Results: Mean age of 65.3 years (±17.5), of whom 94 (55%) were male. Mortality rate was rate was 5.2% and 9.4% for 30-day and 1 year, respectively. Unadjusted logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between elevated IPF levels and 30-day mortality (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.00–1.4, P=0.034). However, no significant association was observed with one-year mortality (OR 1.11; 95% CI 0.95–1.27, P=0.2).

Conclusions: Elevated IPF levels are associated with increased 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this association.