Severe malarial thrombocytopenia: A risk factor for mortality in Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

Background The significance of thrombocytopenia to the morbidity and mortality of malaria is poorly defined. We compared the platelet counts and clinical correlates of patients with and those without malaria in southern Papua, Indonesia. Methods Data were collated on patients presenting to a referral hospital between April 2004 and December 2012. Results Platelet measurements were available in 215 479 patients (23.4%), 66 421 (30.8%) of whom had clinical malaria. Patients with Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection had the lowest platelet counts and greatest risk of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count, <50 000 platelets/μL), compared with those without malaria (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 6.0..