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. 2012 Mar;86(3):531-5.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.10-0209.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever in Trinidad and Tobago: a case for a conservative approach to platelet transfusion

Anu Sharma  1 , Kenneth Charles, Dave Chadee, Surujpaul Teelucksingh
Affiliations

Dengue hemorrhagic fever in Trinidad and Tobago: a case for a conservative approach to platelet transfusion

Anu Sharma et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

Dengue fever is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago. A retrospective analysis of all adult admissions at a tertiary hospital in Trinidad treated for dengue during January 1-December 31, 2008 was performed. A total of 186 patients were treated during this period: 98.9% (184) of the patients were thrombocytopenic; 45.2% were severely thrombocytopenic; 13 patients showed development of minor hemorrhage and only one case of major hemorrhage; platelet transfusion was given for 7% (13) of the cases; and 6 cases for which platelet transfusion was given did not show evidence of plasma leakage (12 of these cases did not show evidence of hemorrhage). There was a strong association between the lowest platelet value and hemoconcentration (χ(2) = 13.16, P < 0.025). No association was found between giving a platelet transfusion and hemoconcentration or hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia seen in dengue resolves spontaneously and independent of any transfusion used.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Frequency of admission by month, Trinidad and Tobago.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Scatter plot showing correlation between platelet minimum level and hemoconcentration, Trinidad and Tobago. HCT = hematocrit.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Variation of hemoconcentration by age, Trinidad and Tobago.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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