Evaluating Relationship between Platelet Count, Leukocytes and Platelet Indices in Dengue Fever in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Dengue fever is public health concerns in Bangladesh, where it occurs in epidemics and has a high mortality in the advanced stages. Clinical features are nonspecific and diagnosis is supported by lab features. Common lab tests include Platelet count, leucocyte count and platelet indices are useful in small rural set ups for early diagnosis and prognosis of dengue. The aim of this study is to evaluate relationship between platelet count, leukocytes and platelet indices. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Laboratory Medicine in collaboration with Department of Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2019 to September 2019. Clinical records of 260 cases were preserved in a structured Clinical Record Form (CRF). Only those, with antigen/antibody supported cases was enrolled in the study. Mean neutrophil (%), mean lymphocyte (%) and mean eosinophil (%) count were statistically significant difference among different platelet count groups (p<0.05). There was significant negative correlation between PDW and platelet count (r= -0.228, p<0.001). MPV was also negatively correlated with platelet count but not significant (r= -0.106, p= 0.088). Beside Platelet count and leukocyte count, Platelet indices such as PDW and MPV are also useful to monitor dengue fever.