INFLUENCE OF SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE ON PLATELET COUNT IN STABLE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to elucidate whether and how the level of homocysteine as a cause of hemostatic abnormalities affects platelet count in hemodialysis patients with uremia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment with acetate basis dialysate and polysulfone membranes. Serum total homocysteine (HCY), hemoglobin, platelet (PLT), and white blood cell (WBC) counts were measured. Levels of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) were also measured. There were 39 study patients (15 female, 24 male) with a mean age of 46 ± 18 years.Results: The duration of dialysis treatment was 31± 35 months (median, 18 months). The value of serum homocysteine for all the patients was 5 ± 2.5 μmol/L (median, 4.5 μmol/L). The mean PLT count was 155 ±77 x 10³ u/L (median, 158 x 10³ u/L). Conclusion: This study showed a significant positive correlation of PLT count with serum homocysteine (r=0.35, P=0.044). In hemodialysis patients high homocystiene levels make the platetes more likely to clump and cause clots and contribute to the possibility of thrombotic events among these patients .