RATIONALE USE OF PLATELET TRANSFUSION IN DENGUE FEVER-EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

• Published in: Journal of evolution of medical and dental sciences Vol. 5; no. 70; pp. 5054 - 5057
• Main Authors: Thimmarayan, Govindaraj, Janarthanam, Venkatraman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Akshantala Enterprises Private Limited 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Dengue fever; Patient outcomes; Platelet transfusion
• ISSN: 2278-4748; 2278-4802
• DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2016/1148

BACKGROUND Dengue infection is caused by an arthropod-borne virus and transmitted by the vector Aedes aegypti. Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever have emerged as a global public health problem in recent decades. Dengue Viruses (DV) belong to Flaviviridae family and it has four serotypes referred to as DV-1, DV-2, DV-3 and DV- 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present Retrospective study was conducted in the blood bank of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry over the period of 3 years from January 2012 to December 2015. Only dengue seropositive cases (121 cases) who have been platelet transfused were included in the study. Non-dengue patients and dengue patients who are not transfused with platelets were not included in this study. Patients clinical data, platelet count and platelet transfusion given to them were analysed. RESULTS Majority of the platelet transfused cases were in the age group between 31 to 40 years followed by third and second decade. Among all cases of platelet transfusion, female population was found to outnumber male population. Considering the guidelines of platelet transfusion, 42 (39%) patients with platelet count >20,000/cu. mm in absence of bleeding or sepsis received inappropriate transfusion. CONCLUSION As platelet products are cost effective, precious and time consuming for preparation, there is a need to implement best platelet transfusion practices especially in developing countries like India. Irrational use of platelets will put the patient at a huge risk. A regular transfusion related audit or forming a committee comprising clinicians and transfusion medicine specialists is the effective way of increasing the likelihood of improving transfusion practices. KEYWORDS Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, Dengue Shock Syndrome, Platelet Count, Platelet Transfusion, Rationale Use, Thrombocytopenia.