Characterization of platelet count and platelet indices and their potential role to predict severity in malaria.

Characterization of platelet count and platelet indices and their potential role to predict severity in malaria. Pathog Glob Health. 2019 Apr 09;:1-8 Authors: Gupta P, Guddattu V, Saravu K Abstract The association of hematological parameters especially platelet parameters with disease severity in malaria is poorly understood. We aimed to characterize the platelet parameters across Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria stratified by severity and to elucidate the potential role of platelet parameters to predict disease severity. Individuals > 18 years, of either gender with microscopically proven symptomatic malaria were prospectively enrolled between October 2014 and August 2016 in a tertiary center in Manipal, India. Severity of malaria was defined as per the WHO definition. Among 159 patients, 32 (20.1%) had severe malaria. 116 (73%) had infection with P. vivax, 37 (23%) P. falciparum and 6 mixed infection. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 32 (86.4%) of P. falciparum and 105 (90.5%) of P. vivax malaria cases. Patients with renal failure (p=0.02), shock (p=0.04) and liver dysfunction (p<0.001) had significantly lower platelet count compared to those who did not. Admission platelet count of 50,000 cell/mm3 had a sensitivity and specificity of 65.6% and 70.6% respectively, to discriminate severe malaria. A plateletcrit of 0.05% had a sensitivity and specificity of 65.6 % and of 70.6% respectively. Thrombocyto...
Source: Pathogens and Global Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Pathog Glob Health Source Type: research