الفهرس 
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Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2) was first described in December 2019 when cases of pneumonia of an unidentified cause were reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, central China 1-3 .The infection has become a major global health concern, attained pandemic status and infected people in almost every country worldwide 3-4.
The reported rates of thrombocytopenia in covid 19 patients varied from less than 5% to about 53.6% 71 . Platelet count has been evaluated as a biomarker to predict the severity of COVID-19 in multiple studies which showed that a lower platelet count is associated with an increased risk of severe disease and mortality in patients with COVID-19 and may serve as a marker for progression of illness.79
Possible mechanisms of thrombocytopenia caused by CoV infection 37-40
1- Hematopoeitic stem cell surface invasion
2- Abnormal BM microenvironment and decreased production of thrombopoietin (TPO)
3- Cellular immunity and cytokine storm
4- Lung damage
5- Increased platelet consumption and drug-induced thrombocytopenia
The aim of this study was to study thrombocytopenia as a prognostic factor in covid 19 patient and it’s relation with length of hospital stay and prognosis in comparison with covid 19 patients with normal platelets count.
The present study was conducted on 60 patients with confirmed COVID 19 infection, admitted to isolation in el Demerdash hospital, from June 2020 to September 2020.
Diagnosis of COVID confirmed on basis of clinical history, radiological findings and positive PCR for COVID 19. All patient had base line CBC which was within normal range, and CBC at day 7,14 and 21 from the start of symptoms.
The results obtained were collected, tabulated and submitted for statistical analysis.
The following results were obtained:
Two patient groups were created; the first group whose platelet count was ≥150 x109/L and the second group whose platelet count < 150 x109/L.
There was high statistical significant difference between normal platelets count group and thrombocytopenic groups regarding outcome (P value <0.001). 38(76%) of normal platelet count patients showed complete recovery, 9(18%) of them suffered from deterioration and only 3 (6%) patients died. While in thrombocytopenic patients, 5 (50%) showed deterioration, 4 (40%) patients died and on patient in this group showed complete recovery.
The overall length of hospital stay of all studied patients was measured and had a mean of 15.25 days for patients with normal platelet count and 21 days for patients with thrombocytopenia with high statistical significant difference between the two groups (P value<0.001). The length of hospital stay was significantly higher in thrombocytopenic group compared to normal platelets count group (p<0.001).