Thrombocytopenia in leptospirosis

ABSTRACT

In a retrospective study undertaken to document the frequency of thrombocytopenia in cases of leptospirosis, 18 of 32 patients (56.3 percent) had a platelet count of 100 x 10 3/mm3 or less. Renal failure occurred in 72.2 percent of thrombocytopenic patients and in 21.4 percent of patients with normal platelet counts. The association of thrombocytopenia and renal failure was significant (P<0.02). The common occurrence of thrombocytopenia and its association with acute renal failure in patients with leptospirosis has not previously been reported. (AU)