title: Thrombocytopenia as a surrogate marker of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in endemic areas for Schistosomiasis mansoni.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate whether a low platelet count is a good surrogate marker of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) in a rural area of Brazil. A small district in southeastern Brazil, with a population of 1,543 individuals and a 23% prevalence of schistosomiasis, was selected for this investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In July 2012, 384 volunteers were subjected to clinical, ultrasonography (US), and laboratory examinations, including stool sample analysis. The HSS patients were classified into four groups: Group 1 consisted of patients with a spleen >13cm and liver fibrosis; Group 2 consisted of patients with a palpable spleen and spleen>13cm measured by US; Group 3 consisted of patients with a spleen >13cm measured by US; and Group 4 consisted of patients with a palpable spleen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients were in Group 1 (2.1%), twenty-one were in Group 2 (5.5%), eight were in Group 3 (2.1%), and eighteen were in Group 4 (4.7%). A significant difference in the mean platelet counts was observed between the patients with and without HSS (p<0.01). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (platelet count <143,000/mm3), the sensitivity was greater than 92% in all groups, and the specificity varied from 44.4% to 75%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that in endemic areas, thrombocytopenia demonstrates good sensitivity for detecting HSS and may be used as a screening tool to identify patients with HSS.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Sandra Costa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Radiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Pedro Nunes
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otoni
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Bruna Assis
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Unidade de Epidemiologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Carlos Maurício
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BRAZIL.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers