Abstract:
Platelet counts are decreased in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which is
aetiologically linked with endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL). However, the
pattern of platelet counts in eBL cases is unknown. We studied platelet
counts in 582 eBL cases and 2 248 controls enrolled in a case-control study
in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya (2010–2016). Mean platelet counts in con-
trols or eBL cases with or without malaria-infection in controls versus
eBLcases were compared using Student’s t-test. Odds ratios (ORs) and
two-sided 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using multi-
ple logistic regression, controlling for age, sex, haemoglobin and white
blood cell counts. Platelets were decreased with malaria infection in the
controls [263 vs. 339 9 10 9 platelets/l, P < 0 0001; adjusted OR
(aOR) = 3 42, 95% CI: 2 79–4 18] and eBL cases (314 vs. 367 9 109 plate-
lets/l, P-value = 0 002; aOR = 2 36, 95% CI: 1 49–3 73). Unexpectedly, pla-
telets were elevated in eBL cases versus controls in overall analyses (mean:
353 vs. 307 9 10 9 platelets/l, P < 0 0001; aOR = 1 41; 95% CI: 1 12–1 77),
and when restricted to malaria-positive (mean 314 vs. 263 9 109 platelets/
l, P < 0 0001; OR = 2 26; 95% CI: 1 56–3 27) or malaria-negative (mean
367 vs. 339 9 10 9 platelets/l, P < 0 001; OR = 1 46; 95% CI: 1 17–1 83)
subjects. Platelets were decreased with malaria infection in controls and
eBL cases but elevated with eBL.
