Using a propensity-matching strategy (to limit potential confounding by disease severity), the investigators found that, compared to patients with normal platelet counts, those with severe thrombocytopenia had higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines as well as increased markers of endothelial cell activation (increased sICAM-1 and fractalkine) and vascular permeability. This evidence concerns the gene CX3CL1 and Thrombocytopenia.