Thrombocytopenia as a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Acute Encephalitis at a Tertiary Care Centre in Northern India.

ABSTRACT

Encephalitis is challenging to manage given the diversity of clinical and epidemiologic features. Various predictors of outcome have been studied so far including thrombocytopenia, cerebral edema, hypoglycaemia, development of status epilepticus and need for endotracheal intubation. Thrombocytopenia represents one of the potentially modifiable risk factors for poor prognosis in encephalitis. A better understanding of the epidemiology of this devastating disease and identification of predictors of outcome and management of reversible factors will pave the way for better management of the disease. MATERIAL: A total of 98 Hospitalised patients of Acute Encephalitis were enrolled in the study. Diagnoses were confirmed by CSF and Neuroimaging studies. Platelet count <150,000/cumm was considered as thrombocytopenia. Mild, moderate and severe thrombocytopenia was categorized at platelet count 100,000-150,000, 50,000-100,000 and <50,000/ cumm, respectively. Outcome at discharge was assessed using the Modified Ranking Score, categorized into 3 groups - good (0-2), fair (3-4), and poor (5-6). Chi-square, ANOVA and Independent samples 't'-tests were used to compare the data. OBSERVATION Mean age of patients was 34.06±18.76 (range 14-85) years. Majority of patients were males (54.1). Mean GCS at admission was 9.41±1.90. Acute viral encephalitis(unclassified) (n=33; 33.7%), Scrub typhus (n=24; 24.5%) and Japanese encephalitis virus (n=12; 12.2%) were the most common underlying etiologies. A total of 74 (75.5%) patients had thrombocytopenia. Mild, moderate and severe thrombocytopenia was seen in 34 (34.7%), 30 (30.6%) and 10 (10.2%) cases. Thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in Dengue and Scrub as compared to other etiologies. Thrombocytopenia and its severity showed a significant association with lower GCS and higher mRS scores indicating a poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia is associated with a poor clinical status and adverse outcomes in patients with encephalitis of all causes.