Association between Platelet Count and Serum Creatinine Levels among Patients with End Stage Kidney Disease on Regular Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Single Center Study in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health concern, which ultimately leads to end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Irreversible permanent failure of renal function defined as ESKD is characterized by the inability to maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance. Regular maintenance hemodialysis as renal replacement therapy offers survival benefits for patients with ESKD. These patients are well-known to exhibit bleeding complications as a result of qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of platelets. Objective: To determine the correlation between platelet parameters and serum creatinine levels in ESKD patients undergoing hemodialysis at a tertiary care hospital, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 39 adult patients above 18 years with ESKD on regular maintenance hemodialysis at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Sri Lanka. Pre-dialysis blood samples were used. Laboratory values for pre-dialysis serum creatinine, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), were recorded. The correlation between pre-hemodialysis platelet parameters and serum creatinine was analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Statistical significance was indicated by a p- value of <0.05. Results: The male:female ratio of the sample was 31:8 with a median age of 58 years. Pre- hemodialysis PLT (r=-0.480, p=0.037) and PDW (r=-0.475, p=0.040) showed significant moderate negative correlations with pre-hemodialysis serum creatinine levels. However, pre- hemodialysis MPV did not indicate a significant correlation with pre-hemodialysis serum creatinine levels. Conclusions: A negative correlation was found between pre-hemodialysis PLT and PDW with pre-hemodialysis serum creatinine levels among patients on regular maintenance hemodialysis for ESKD.