Thrombocytopenia associated with hepatitis C viral infection.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether chronic hepatitis C infection is associated with thrombocytopenia.


RESULTS
Thrombocytopenia (<15 x 10(4) platelets/mu l) was diagnosed in 151 of 368 patients (41.0%) with chronic hepatitis C, a significantly higher proportion than that observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B (18.9%, p < 0.01). Elevated titers of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G were observed in 88.1% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and in 47.1% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C (87.3 +/- 10.1 ng/10(7) cells) vs. those with chronic hepatitis B (30.3 +/- 6.4) or the control subjects (p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers and platelet counts in both chronic hepatitis C and B cases. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G titers were significantly higher in patients with type C cirrhosis than in those with type B cirrhosis. Interestingly, HCV-RNA was detected by RT-PCR in the platelets from 11 of 14 patients with hepatitis C virus.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that chronic infection with hepatitis C virus may produce a significant autoimmune reaction to platelets, leading to thrombocytopenia.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
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T
Nagamine
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Ohtuka
K
K
Takehara
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T
Arai
H
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Takagi
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M
Mori
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
D007074:Immunoglobulin G