Clinical Significance of Platelet Index in Posttreatment Follow-up of Vivax Malaria

Lim, Chae Seung; Kim, Young Kee; Lee, Kap No

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In Korea, vivax malaria has progressively increased to 1,700 cases in 1997. To prevent the spread of malaria, early detection and treatments, as well as vector control programs, are essential. Until now, classic methods, such as thin and thick blood smears with Giemsa or Wright stain have been routinely used as follow-up after anti-malarial treatment, but these require expertise. We evaluated here hematologic indices as makers in follow-up after anti-malarial treatment.
METHODS
Thin and thick blood smears were prepared in 22 patients at pre- and posttreatment periods. The slides were stained with Giemsa or Wright Giemsa solution. Simultaneously complete blood cell counts including 10 hematologic indices (WBC, RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Platelet, MPV) were done by autoanalyser Celldyn 3000. We analysed correlation between parasitemia and each hematologic index and significant changes between pre- and posttreatment.
RESULTS
Other indices were not significantly changed after anti-malarial treatment, except for platelet counts which inversely correlated with parasitemia. Mean platelet counts of patients were recovered from 97,000/uL to 14,1000/uL in posttreatment follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Platelet counts in malaria patients could be used as simple and useful marker for posttreatment follow-up.