Thrombopoietin levels in patients with cirrhosis before and after orthotopic liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation of cirrhosis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine plasma thrombopoietin levels in cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia, monitor those levels before and after orthotopic liver transplantation, and compare thrombopoietin messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in liver samples from cirrhotic patients and controls.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of patients with cirrhosis, including a small subset of patients who had orthotopic liver transplantation.


METHODS
University-affiliated hospital.


METHODS
44 patients with cirrhosis, including 17 patients who had orthotopic liver transplantation.


METHODS
Orthotopic liver transplantation.


METHODS
Plasma thrombopoietin levels in all patients, platelet counts in all patients, and thrombopoietin mRNA levels in liver samples from nine patients with cirrhosis and eight controls.


RESULTS
Thrombopoietin levels were undetectable in 39 of 44 patients with cirrhosis. In 16 of 17 patients, the levels became detectable after liver transplantation. Thrombopoietin mRNA levels were decreased in liver samples from patients with cirrhosis compared with controls (P = 0.0103).


CONCLUSIONS
The low thrombopoietin levels in cirrhotic patients with thrombocytopenia and the increased levels after orthotopic liver transplantation suggest that impaired production of thrombopoietin may contribute to thrombocytopenia associated with cirrhosis.
Martin
T G
TG
University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Somberg
K A
KA
Meng
Y G
YG
Cohen
R L
RL
Heid
C A
CA
de Sauvage
F J
FJ
Shuman
M A
MA
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013926:Thrombopoietin