Abstract: The objective was to investigate the relationship between platelet(plt)counts and prognosis in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS).Parameters in 133 SARS patients admitted to Xuanwu Hospital in Beijing from May 2003 to June 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:The inortality in the cases being treated in ICU remarkably increased in thrombocytopenia group,compared with those in normal group.The level of high bloodglucose and abnormal LDH、CPK、WBC and lymphopenia in thrombocytopenia group is much higher than that of normal platelet group(P< 0.01).The ratio of severe type patients and their average age in thrombocytopenia patients were much higher than that in the other group(P<0.01).These diferences were observed in platelet counts<150×10⁹/L group.Platelet counts may provide us with a good criteria for detecting disease severity and prognosis in patients with SARS.The changes of platelet counts in patients with SARS is an important predictor to prognosis.We should not only pay attention to patients whose platelet counts are lower than 100×10⁹/L,but also pay much attention to patients whose platelet counts are lower than 150×10⁹/L.

Key words: severe acute respiratory syndrome, platelet, prognosis