The clinical implications of thrombocytopenia in adults with severe falciparum malaria: a retrospective analysis (BMC Medicine)

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in adults with severe falciparum malaria, but its clinical and prognostic utility is incompletely defined. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from 647 adults with severe falciparum malaria were analysed retrospectively to determine the relationship between a patient’s platelet count on admission to hospital and their subsequent clinical course. Results: On admission, 614 patients (94.9%) were thrombocytopenic (platelet count