Work

Monocyte to large platelet ratio as a diagnostic marker for acute pulmonary embolism

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening diagnosis that commonly presents to the emergency department with nonspecific symptoms. Despite advances in diagnostic algorithms, rapid identification remains challenging, particularly when definitive imaging is delayed or unavailable. Simple and readily available biomarkers may assist in the early evaluation of patients with suspected PE. This study investigated the diagnostic value of the monocyte-to-large platelet ratio (MLPR), a novel inflammation- and thrombosis-related biomarker, in acute PE. Methods This retrospective exploratory study reviewed 115 medical records of patients presenting with suspected PE to the emergency department between January and December 2024 who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography. After applying exclusion criteria, 53 patients were included (25 PE, 28 non-PE). Admission complete blood count parameters, including MLPR, monocyte and lymphocyte counts, and derived ratios, were analyzed. Results Age and sex distribution were similar between groups. Total leukocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the PE group, alongside significantly elevated MLPR (1.19 ± 0.45 vs. 0.61 ± 0.39; P < 0.001), while NLR did not differ significantly ( P = 0.4235). MLPR demonstrated the highest diagnostic performance among individual hematological markers (AUC 0.854, 95% CI 0.752–0.956; P < 0.001). Combining MLPR with lymphocyte count further improved diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.907, 95% CI 0.827–0.986), achieving 92% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. Conclusion MLPR is a promising, readily available biomarker for diagnosing acute PE, with enhanced performance when combined with lymphocyte count.

Source: American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research and Practice

DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2026.100951

Authors: Mohamed K.A. Awad, Reem H. El Kabarity, Hadeel Magdy Abdelhamid, Azza M. Youssef

Institution: Ain Shams University

Language: English

Topic: Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosis and Management

Subfield: Internal Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,810