The progression of dengue is often linked with thrombocytopenia resulting from viral-induced bone marrow suppression and immune-mediated peripheral platelet consumption. Immature platelet fraction (IPF) can be measured using a hematology analyzer and can be regarded as a precursor indicating platelet formation in the bone marrow. 

A recent study evaluated the trend of IPF as an early recovery indicator of platelets in dengue patients with thrombocytopenia and also assessed its relationship with severe dengue in conjunction with reticulocyte count.

Patients hospitalized for dengue were enrolled and followed-up daily until discharge. All underwent blood investigations, including daily full blood counts and IPF measurements.

 The observations were as follows:

• 287 patients with confirmed dengue were enrolled in the study, 25 of whom had severe dengue.
• All patients showed a decreasing trend in platelet count in the first week of illness, along with an increasing trend in the percentage of immature platelets to total platelets (IPF %) for more than 3 days before platelet recovery.
• IPF% was found to be markedly higher in patients with severe dengue than in patients with non-severe dengue on days 3–5 after the onset of fever.
• The reticulocyte count showed a substantial increase in patients with severe dengue on day 5.

Thus, IPF has the potential to be utilized as an early recovery indicator of platelets in patients with dengue and thrombocytopenia.

Source: Looi KW, Matsui Y, Kono M. Evaluation of immature platelet fraction as a marker of dengue fever progression. International Journal of Infectious disease. 2021;110: 187-194. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.048