Objective: To compare platelet indices with platelet count in predicting bleeding tendencies of dengue positive cases.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. 50 seropositive dengue patients were enrolled in the study. Clinical presentations and bleeding signs were monitored. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and plateletcrit were measured on the day of bleeding and on the day patient recovered from bleeding manifestations.

Results: In the present study, the chief presenting complaint was fever (92%) which is followed by vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding. Malena was identified as the common bleeding sign seen in 48% of the patients. Study group showed a marked decrease in plateletcrit value  during bleeding 0.07 ±0.05 % when compared to the platelecrit values during recovery 0.13 ±0.04 % and was statistically significant similar to platelet count. However, the significance was much higher for plateletcrit (p=0.0001) compared to platelet count (p =0.001). Mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width showed no significant difference between bleeding and recovery periods.

Conclusion: The present study showed a significant decrease in plateletcrit and platelet count when the patient developed bleeding manifestations and progressively increases during the period of recovery. The rise in value during recovery is prominent for plateletcrit when compared to platelet count. Of all the platelet indices, plateletcrit can be used as an adjunct to platelet count to predict bleeding and recovery.

Keywords: Dengue, plateletcrit, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, platelet count, bleeding.

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Dr Sudhakar Ramamoorthy

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology,

Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Madurai

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