Thrombocytopenia in Patients Hospitalized for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome and Its Associations to Clinical Complications. (12th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silczuk, Andrzej; Habrat, Bogusław; Lew-Starowicz, Michał
• Is Part Of: Alcohol and alcoholism. Volume 54:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 503
• Page End: 509
• Publication Date: 2019-08-12
• Subjects: thrombocytopenia -- alcohol withdrawal syndrome -- delirium tremens -- predictors; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agz061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-0414

Abstract

Abstract : The association of thrombocytopenia (TP) and alcohol use has been demonstrated. Also TP as possible risk factor for alcohol withdrawal complications (cAWS) have been reported. In this study, the relationship between the presence of TP and cAWS was clearly established and assessed below what platelets count (<119k/mL) this risk increases. Abstract: Background: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of thrombocytopenia (TP) in alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) as a marker of evolution of non-complicated AWS (nAWS) to severe, complicated AWS (cAWS): delirium tremens (DTs) and withdrawal seizures (wS), and to broaden knowledge about differences between nAWS and cAWS groups in relation to severity of TP. Methods: This study involved 300 people (236 males and 64 females), aged 19–65 years (M = 44.64, SD = 11.32), hospitalized in the detoxification ward with ICD-10 diagnosis of F10.3 (AWS) or F10.4 (DTs), divided into nAWS and cAWS groups, 150 cases each. AWS severity was measured by CIWA-Ar. Available clinical and laboratory data were analyzed. Results: TP was found in 139 (46%) of all subjects (nAWS = 32, cAWS = 107). nAWS and cAWS did not differ according to age, gender, length and severity of the last binge. A relationship between the occurrence of TP and cAWS was found ( P < 0.001). The lower was the number of PLT, the more AWS incidence was observed. In CIWA-Ar, TP subjects had at least moderate AWS ( P < 0.001). nAWS had higher PLT values than cAWS cases (Mrang = 195.96 vs. 105.04, P < 0.001). The predictive value of TP in cAWS was confirmed. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that patients with AWS and TP (in particular <119k/mL) are at higher risk of developing cAWS.