title: Platelet activation in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), we investigated platelet activation in patients with chronic viral liver diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Platelet activation was evaluated with flow cytometry in twenty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 11 patients with liver cirrhosis of viral etiology. Liver biopsies were carried out in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The platelet counts decreased significantly in patients with CHC and in patients with liver cirrhosis compared to controls, but not in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Patients with CHC had a significantly higher percentage of platelets positive for activation-dependent monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), and also had a higher percentage of platelet microparticles (PMP), a marker of platelet activation, than patients with CHB. There was a significant correlation between the percentage of PMP and the levels of liver fibrosis markers, such as serum hyaluronate and N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (P-III-P), in CHC, suggesting the relationship between platelet activation and liver fibrosis. Platelet activation was markedly enhanced in CHC patients with high histological scores of liver fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with CHC have increased platelet activation, which may contribute to the occurrence of thrombocytopenia in CHC. Liver fibrosis may play a role in activation of platelets in CHC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan. fusegawa@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hisae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fusegawa
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Fusao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haruki
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010976:Platelet Count; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C041876:procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid