OBJECTIVE Determine predictive factors of intensive care mortality in thrombocytopenic patients. METHODS Retrospective study. METHODS Data including the last 100 patients hospitalised in intensive care unit during period from March 2002 to January 2003 and having presented, at least one time, a platelet count <150 x 10(9)/l. Comparison between patients was realized according to the definitive issue (death or discharge from intensive care). RESULTS Incidence of thrombocytopenia was 27%. Mortality rate was 53%. Thrombocytopenia in admission was noted in 44% of the patients. IGS II score (OR = 1.05 and p = 0.014), sepsis (OR = 34.2 and p = 0.002) or hepatic dysfunction cases (OR = 42.5 and p = 0.026) were predictive factors of death in intensive care unit when thrombocytopenia occurred. CONCLUSIONS Our results concerning prognostic value of thrombocytopenia in intensive care unit are partly similar to those of literature with a surmortality associated to thrombocytopenia related to sepsis and hepatic dysfunction.