Author/Editor		Lotrič-Furlan, S; Strle, F
Title		Thrombocytopenia - a common finding in the initial phase of tick-borne encephalitis
Type		članek
Source		Infection
Vol. and No.		Letnik 23, št. 4
Publication year		1995
Volume		str. 203-6
Language		eng
Abstract		The aim of this prospective study was to assess the frequency of thrombocytopenia and abnormal liver function tests in the initial phase of tick-borne encephalitis. In 1994, 248 adult patients presented at the Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, with acute lymphocytic meningitis of meningoencephalitis and serologically confirmed tick-borne encephalitis virus infection. In 180/248 (72.6 percent) patients, typical biphasic course of the illness was found and 28/180 (15.6 percent) patients with biphastic course were examined in both ohases of the illness. In 20 out of these 28 (71.4 percent) patients, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were found initialy, in one (3.6 percent) patient only leukopenia was recorded and three (10.7 percent) patients had thrombocytopenia without leukopenia. In four (14.3 percent) patients leukocyte and thrombocyte values were within the normal range. The lowest leukocyte number was 1.4 x 10 9/l and the lowest recorded thrombocyte number was 60 x 10 9/l. Abnormal liver function tests were discovered in four out of 18 patients tested (22.2 percent). In conclusion, in the initial phase of tick-borne encephalitis thrombocytopenia and abnormal liver function tests may be found. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding with a frequency similar to that of well-known leukopenia, while abnormal liver function tests are relatively rare.
Descriptors		LEUKOPENIA ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA LIVER TIME FACTORS ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE FLAVIVIRIDAE SLOVENIA