title: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome and platelet count ≥250×10(9) are associated with venous thromboembolic disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prior research has demonstrated that platelet count and inflammation are dominant contributors to hypercoagulability. Our objective is to determine whether elevated platelet count and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) have an association with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with a high clinical index of suspicion for thromboembolic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective medical record review of 844 medical and surgical patients with suspected VTE hospitalized from July 2012 to May 2013 who underwent screening by venous duplex and computed tomography pulmonary angiogram. For our purposes, thrombocytosis was arbitrarily defined as platelet count ≥250×10(9)/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Venous thromboembolic disease was detected in 229 patients (25.9%). Thrombocytosis was present in 389 patients (44%) and SIRS was present in 203 patients (23%) around the time of imaging. Thrombocytosis and SIRS were positively correlated with VTE (P<0.001). There was no correlation between thrombocytosis and SIRS. Multivariate analysis revealed that SIRS (odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.36-2.68, P<0.001) and thrombocytosis (odds ration 1.67, 95% confidence interval 1.23-2.26, P=0.001) were independently associated with VTE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients at high risk for VTE should be routinely assessed for thrombocytosis (≥250×10(9)/L) and SIRS; if either is present, consideration for empiric anticoagulation should be given while diagnostic imaging is undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Gerard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Baltazar
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Shahniwaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Labana
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Trishul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bhagat
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Akella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chendrasekhar
keywords: SIRS; VTE; platelet count; thrombocytosis