The platelet count and its implications in sickle cell disease patients admitted for intensive care

Abstract

In severe sickle cell crisis thrombocytopenia is more common than thrombocytosis. In the ICU, day 1 platelet counts correlate inversely with prognostic scores and are significantly reduced in multi-organ failure and nonsurvivors. A platelet count above 175 × 10⁹/L predicts patient survival with high specificity and positive predictive value but lacks sensitivity.