Platelet Alteration in Plasmodium vivax Malaria Patients in Thailand
Mohammand Sami Hayat
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Polrat Wilairatana *
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Noppadon Tangpukdee
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Srivicha Krudsood
Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nalinrat Wilairat
Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Pichayapat Wilairat
Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Pimjira Thebpatipat
Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Malaria remains a global health problem. Malaria is often linked to thrombocytopenia as well as other hematological variations.
Objective: The aim of this study is to find the platelet changes in Plasmodium vivax malaria patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 204 malaria patients admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand.
Results: Thrombocytopenia (<150x103/µl) was seen in 170(83.3%) patients with a mean (SD) of 101x103/µl (56.5). Mild (150x103/µl-50x103/µl), moderate (50x103/µl-20x103/µl) and severe (<20x103/µl) thrombocytopenia were seen in 141 (69.1%), 25 (12.2%) and 4 (2%) patients respectively. None of these patients with thrombocytopenia showed any sign of bleeding or required platelet transfusion.
Conclusion: This study showed thrombocytopenia as a classic feature of vivax malaria presenting more than 80% of cases. In patients with profoundly low thrombocyte counts there was no manifestation of bleeding nor was any platelet transfusion required.
Keywords: Malaria, Vivax, platelet, thrombocytopenia, Thailand.