Rafia Behzad, Aatika Khalid.
Positive Predictive Value of Thrombocytopenia and Leukopenia in Diagnosis of Acute Dengue Infection.
J Pak Society Int Med Jan ;2(4):304-7.

Objective: To determine the positive predictive value of thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in patients of acute dengue infection. METHODSThis descriptive study was undertaken in Haematology Department, Medical and Pediatric wards, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. A total of 100 patients diagnosed as a case of acute dengue infection on the basis of Indirect ELISA for anti DENV IgM were selected using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Venous blood of 2.5 ml of these patients was collected in CP bottle containing EDTA as anticoagulant. It was analyzed on automated Haematology analyzer Sysmex XT 2000i system. Blood levels of Total Leucocyte Count and platelet count were recorded and documented for these patients and their positive predictive values were calculated. RESULTS Out of 100 diagnosed patients of acute dengue infection, 81% exhibited thrombocytopenia and 75% had leukopenia. The combined PPV of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia was 88%. CONCLUSION Acute dengue fever is characterized by thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Therefore Dengue should be the top most differential diagnosis in febrile patients with thrombocytopenia and leucopenia.

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