Relationship between platelet counts, mean platelet volume, platecrit and Beta Thalassemia Carriers

Abstract

Aim: β-thalassemia carriers (BTC) is generally asymptomatic;however, in clinical practice, there is hypochromic microcytic mildanemia caused by a hereditary reduction in beta globin synthesis.In the literature, there is also some information about plateletindices in BTC. The aim of this study was to evaluate platelet indicesin children with BTC. In addition, we compared platelet indicesbetween anemia (Hb<11 g/dl) and non-anemia BTC (Hb ≥11 g/dl).Material and Method: A cross sectional study included a totalof 153 subjects aged 1-16 years were recruited from GaziantepUniversity Hospital outpatient clinics electronic database.Results: Platelet counts were normal in 90 patients with BTC.Thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia were detected in 59(38.5%) and four (2.6%) patients, respectively. This study groupwas divided into two groups as group 1, cases<11 g/dl (n=86), andgroup 2, cases≥11g/dl (n=67) according to the hemoglobin levels.The children with the group 1 had significantly higher mean levelsof platelet counts and platecrit than those with group 2 (p<0.05).In the logistic regression test, linear correlation between plateletcounts and platecrit (r=0.94, p<0.01) was observed, whereas therewere inverse correlations between platelet counts and age (r=-0.32, p<0.01), mean platelet volume (r=-0.18, p<0.05), hemoglobin(r =-0.18, p<0.05).Conclusion: We found that both thrombocytosis andthrombocytopenia may occur in BTC. Herein we also foundsignificantly elevated platelet counts in BTC with anemia.