Correlation between Thrombocytopenia and Anaemia in Plasmodium falciparum malaria among patients in Kisumu County-Western Kenya

Abstract

Background: Malaria is associated with haematological complications which may be avoided by early diagnosis and treatment. Microscopic diagnosis showing presence of malarial parasites is needed for confirmation which requires technical expertise. The study was therefore carried out determine the correlation between thrombocytopenia and anaemia in P.falciparum malaria.
Methods: The study was conducted in Kisumu County-Kenya which is a highly endemic malaria region. Both thick and thin blood smears were used to determine P. falciparum infection status in a total of 228 patients presenting with acute febrile illness. All participants’ demographics and Haematological parameters i.e. Haemoglobin level, platelet count, Mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were analysed.
Results: Haemoglobin and platelet count were significantly lower in the malaria infected group (p<0.001 in both cases). Conversely, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were higher in comparison to non-infected group (p<0.001). Severe to moderate anaemia was present in 78 %( n=122) of malaria infected patients against 47 %( n=33) of the non-infected group. Thrombocytopenia was present in 87 %( n=137) of the infected patients against 10 % (n=7) of the non-infected group. There was a positive correlation between anaemia and thrombocytopenia in malaria(r= 0.26, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Low platelet count and Haemoglobin levels positively correlate and are important predictors of P .falciparum malaria. This could to avoid performing unnecessary expensive tests to rule out other febrile conditions. The above findings also have therapeutic implications of avoiding unnecessary platelet infusion in malaria.

Keywords: thrombocytopenia, pseudo-thrombocytopenia, anaemia and haemoglobin.

Afr J Health Sci. 2016; 29(2):76-88