Platelet functions in patients with meningococcal meningitis at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.
OBJECTIVE
To determine platelet abnormalities in patients with menigococcal meningitis.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
Fifty seven cases of mennigococcal meningitis based on a cerebrospinal fluid gram stain for gram negative diplococcus or positive culture were recruited. Fifty-seven controls matched for age and sex were also recruited. The following platelet functions tests were performed; platelet counts, platelet adhesiveness, platelet aggregation and clot retraction.


RESULTS
Fifty seven patients (41 males and 16 females) with meningococcal meningitis were studied. Their mean age was 25.5 +/- 8.32 years with a range of 15 to 45 years. Five patients had purpura, four peripheral gangrene, eight conjunctival haemorrhages and one was in shock. There was a statistical significant difference in the platelet aggregation and clot retraction between the patients and controls at p-values of 0.0001 and 0.0002 respectively. There was no significant difference in the platelet count and adhesiveness between the patients and the controls at a p-value of 0.203 and 0.22 respectively. No association was found between the platelet functions and the clinical presentations.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with meningococcal meningitis have abnormalities in the platelet functions mainly in aggregation and adhesiveness.
Amayo
E O
EO
Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kayima
J K
JK
Joshi
M D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001791:Blood Platelet Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003232:Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D010979:Platelet Function Tests; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011693:Purpura / Q000382:microbiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology; D014504:Urban Health