Thrombocytopenia: analysis of 415 patients

ABSTRACT

To find out the relative frequency of conditions associated with thrombocytopaenia. Descriptive study Combined Military Hospital Attock in collaboration with Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi, from March 2003 to March 2004. Materials and All patients referred for blood counts. Patients with platelet count below 150x10[9]/L, were registered. Investigations including peripheral blood counts and smear examination, blood/smear for bacterial culture, IgM for Dengue virus, Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C Antibodies, ultrasound abdomen and bone marrow examination were performed. Out of 18,000 patients, 415[2.3%] revealed thrombocytopaenia [341 adults and 74 children]. In adults, viral anti-body was found in 27.7%, malaria in 17%, bacterial infections in 12.4%, megaloblastic anaemia in 8.2%, bone marrow infiltrates in 7.9%, drug induced thrombocytopaenia in 4.4%, chronic liver disease in 3.5%, hypersplenism in 2.9%, DIC in 2.9%, pregnancy associated thrombocytopenia in 2%, aplastic anaemia in 1.5%, ITP in 1.2% and upper respiratory viral infection in 8%. In paediatric age group malaria was detected in 27%, megaloblastic anaemia in 23%, bacterial infections in 13.5%, leukaemia in 13.5%, neonatal thrombocytopenia in 9.5%, ITP in 2.7%, DIC in 1.4%, aplastic anaemia in 1.4% and upper respiratory viral infections in 8%. Malaria, viral and bacterial infections and megaloblastic anaemia are the most common causes of thrombocytopenia in our setup