mean platelet volume in blood vs. platelet-rich plasma: demographic analysis and intrasubject variability in prp therapy

Objectives: to evaluate inter- and intraindividual differences in mean platelet volume (mpv) between blood and platelet-rich plasma (prp), and to assess the influence of demographic factors (sex, age, body mass index (bmi)).methods: a retrospective analysis of 877 patients treated with prp for musculoskeletal conditions (nov 2021–dec 2024). mpv values in blood and prp were compared. intrasubject variability was analyzed in a subgroup of 298 patients who received at least three prp doses.results: mpv was significantly lower in prp compared to blood (p < 0.001). age, sex, and bmi had no significant effect on mpv. the coefficient of variation (cv) was low in both blood (2.78%) and prp (3.87%), with the variation in prp being significantly greater than that in blood (p < 0.001). intrasubject mpv variability was low (coefficient of variation (cv): 2.78% in blood, 3.87% in prp; p < 0.001), while intersubject variability was greater in prp.conclusion: centrifugation significantly reduces mpv in prp compared to whole blood, indicating that the preparation process alters platelet characteristics. while demographic factors such as age, sex, and bmi do not appear to influence platelet size, the greater intersubject variability—compared to low intrasubject variability—suggests that centrifugation protocols play a key role in determining prp composition. these findings support the reliability of the single-step prp preparation method used in this study and highlight the importance of protocol standardization to ensure consistent biological quality, which may ultimately impact the therapeutic effectiveness of prp in musculoskeletal treatments.