Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort

Semanur Kuzi; Nesibe Korkmaz; Dilek Bulut; Gönül Çiçek Şentürk

doi:10.32322/jhsm.2019327

Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort

Abstract

Aims: To determine the prevalence and severity of thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV (PLWH), identify associated factors, and assess whether HIV-related associations persist after exclusion of major secondary causes. Methods: This retrospective study included adults with HIV followed at a tertiary-care center between January 2023 and July 2024. Baseline laboratory parameters obtained before initiation of antiretroviral therapy were used. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count <150×10⁹/L. Associated factors were evaluated using multivariable binary logistic regression. Vitamin B12 and folate were assessed in a secondary complete-case model, and sensitivity analysis excluded major secondary causes. Results: Among 581 PLWH, 64 (11.0%) had thrombocytopenia; 46 (71.9%) had mild, 14 (21.9%) moderate, and 4 (6.3%) severe thrombocytopenia. Median CD4+ T-cell count was lower (172 vs 357 cells/mm³; p<0.001), whereas HIV RNA was higher (700,912 vs 165,000 IU/mL; p<0.001) in patients with thrombocytopenia. In the primary multivariable model, higher CD4+ T-cell count was associated with lower odds of thrombocytopenia (OR 0.781, 95% CI 0.662-0.922; p=0.003), whereas higher HIV RNA was associated with increased odds (OR 1.365, 95% CI 1.064-1.753; p=0.014). After exclusion of major secondary causes, both CD4+ T-cell count (OR 0.814, 95% CI 0.685-0.968; p=0.020) and HIV RNA (OR 1.578, 95% CI 1.178-2.114; p=0.002) remained independently associated. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was predominantly mild. Lower CD4+ T-cell count and higher HIV RNA remained independently associated with thrombocytopenia after exclusion of major secondary causes. Severe thrombocytopenia was uncommon and was accompanied by an additional clinically relevant condition in three of four patients.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for this study.

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee on August 14, 2024 (Approval No: AEŞH-BADEK-2024-756). The study was conducted using retrospectively collected, de-identified data.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infectious Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Semanur Kuzi ^*
0000-0001-6496-1773
Türkiye

Nesibe Korkmaz
0000-0002-2532-5157
Türkiye

Dilek Bulut
0000-0001-5874-174X
Türkiye

Gönül Çiçek Şentürk
0000-0001-7959-3125
Türkiye

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

August 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2019327

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA28LU82EF

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kuzi, S., Korkmaz, N., Bulut, D., & Çiçek Şentürk, G. (2026). Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(6), 1669-1674. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2019327

AMA

1.Kuzi S, Korkmaz N, Bulut D, Çiçek Şentürk G. Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(6):1669-1674. doi:10.32322/jhsm.2019327

Chicago

Kuzi, Semanur, Nesibe Korkmaz, Dilek Bulut, and Gönül Çiçek Şentürk. 2026. “Thrombocytopenia Among People Living With HIV: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Secondary Causes in a Tertiary-Care Cohort”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (6): 1669-74. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2019327.

EndNote

Kuzi S, Korkmaz N, Bulut D, Çiçek Şentürk G (October 1, 2026) Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 6 1669–1674.

IEEE

[1]S. Kuzi, N. Korkmaz, D. Bulut, and G. Çiçek Şentürk, “Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 1669–1674, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.2019327.

ISNAD

Kuzi, Semanur - Korkmaz, Nesibe - Bulut, Dilek - Çiçek Şentürk, Gönül. “Thrombocytopenia Among People Living With HIV: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Secondary Causes in a Tertiary-Care Cohort”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/6 (October 1, 2026): 1669-1674. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.2019327.

JAMA

1.Kuzi S, Korkmaz N, Bulut D, Çiçek Şentürk G. Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:1669–1674.

MLA

Kuzi, Semanur, et al. “Thrombocytopenia Among People Living With HIV: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Secondary Causes in a Tertiary-Care Cohort”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 6, Oct. 2026, pp. 1669-74, doi:10.32322/jhsm.2019327.

Vancouver

1.Semanur Kuzi, Nesibe Korkmaz, Dilek Bulut, Gönül Çiçek Şentürk. Thrombocytopenia among people living with HIV: prevalence, associated factors, and secondary causes in a tertiary-care cohort. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Oct. 1;9(6):1669-74. doi:10.32322/jhsm.2019327