Ankus E, et al. - In patients with a platelet count at the upper end of the normal range, researchers quantified the risk of undiagnosed cancer. As per the data, clinicians ought to consider cancer in subjects having a platelet count >375 × 109/l, review reasons for testing and any additional reported symptoms.

Methods

• Authors conducted a primary care-based cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) data from 2000 to 2013.
• A total of 2,704 individuals were included in the study; stratification of these patients was performed by platelet count: 325–349 × 109/l; 350–374 × 109/l; 375–399 × 109/l.
• Experts determined the incident cancer diagnoses in the year following that platelet count were obtained from patient records.

Results

• Findings suggested that with increasing platelet count, cancer incidence rose: 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9 to 3.6] in subjects with a count of 325–349 × 109/l, 3.7% (95% CI 2.5 to 5.3) in subjects with a count of 350–374 × 109/l and 5.1% (95% CI 3.4 to 7.5) in those with a count of 375–399 × 109/l.
• In all 3 groups, colorectal cancer was most commonly diagnosed.
• Compared to the females, cancer incidence was consistently higher in males.