Thrombocytopenia as a marker of liver steatosis in a low-endemic area for schistosomiasis mansoni.

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is commonly found in patients living in highly endemic areas for Schistosoma mansoni. Recently, different degrees of liver steatosis have also been associated with low platelet counts worldwide. We investigated the association of platelet counts with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and with liver steatosis in an area of low prevalence of schistosomiasis in Brazil. Method: Pains, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, had a population of 8,307 inhabitants and a schistosomiasis prevalence of 8%. Four micro-areas comprising 1,045 inhabitants were selected for this study. Blood sample was collected and a complete blood count (CBC) was performed. Eighty-seven (87) patients had low platelet counts (group 1 - 8.3%) and 94 volunteers presenting normal CBC were randomized (group 2 - 8.9%). They underwent clinical and ultrasound examinations. Liver steatosis was determined as either present or absent using abdominal ultrasound. A spleen > 12 cm in length, measured by ultrasound (US), was considered to be increased. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 19.0. Results: Twenty-two patients (22/25.3%) in group 1 had liver steatosis compared with 11 volunteers (11.7%) in group 2 (p=0.02). Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis was diagnosed in two patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was not a good marker of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni in a low prevalence area in Brazil. Liver steatosis was associated with thrombocytopenia in our study.