[Association of platelets with multiple organic failure in septic patients]

Sepsis is a proinflammatory and procoagulant condition; platelet abnormalities constitute the main alteration, with thrombocytopenia being the most prevalent. This variation is due to multiple mechanisms, primarily the formation of microcirculatory thrombi, which leads to increased consumption. A potential association between decreased platelet counts and poor prognosis has been previously described.

To establish the association between platelet counts and multiple organ failure (MOF) in septic patients in the intensive care unit.

A single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study including patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of sepsis, with or without MOF, excluding those with COVID-19. Serum platelet levels were collected upon admission to the intensive care unit. The Mann-Whitney U test, ROC curve analysis, and binary logistic regression were used.

A total of 93 septic patients were included (46.2% with MOF). Those with MOF had lower platelet counts (149 vs. 217.5 × 10^9/L; p = 0.003), with 174 × 10^9/L identified as the best cutoff point (AUC 0.710). Platelets were also associated with MOF (OR 8.53; p = 0.003); however, in the multivariable analysis, acute kidney injury was the main factor associated with MOF (OR 27.8; p ≤ 0.001).

A decrease in platelet count is a risk factor associated with MOF in septic patients in the intensive care unit.