The Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Platelet Count in Post-Chemotherapy Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is a malignant disease that become a global health problem with an increasing incidence rate.  Serum uric acid levels is the end product of purine metabolism and may increase following chemotherapy due to cellular damage and increased purine degradation. Platelets are involved not only in hemostasis but also in inflammation and tumor progression, and their count may be affected by chemotherapy. This study aims to determine the relationship between serum uric acid levels and platelet count in post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients.

Method: This study is observational analytical research with a cross-sectional approach. Medical record data from 93 post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients who met the eligibility criteria were included using total sampling. Serum uric acid levels and platelet count were obtained from laboratory examinations documented in the medical records during the post-chemotherapy evaluation period. The relationship between serum uric acid levels and platelet count was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test.

Results: The median of serum uric acid level was 4.2 (2–11) mg/dL, while the median platelet count was 290 (67–656) 10³/μL. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a very weak positive correlation between serum uric acid levels and platelet count (r = 0.101), which was not statistically significant (P value = 0.335).

Conclusion: A very weak positive correlation was observed between serum uric acid levels and platelet count in post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients. However, the association was not statistically significant.

Keywords: Breast cancer, chemotherapy, inflammation, platelet, serum uric acid levels