[The relationship among the counts of platelet, thrombopoietin and spleen index in patients with liver cirrhosis].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reason of thrombocytopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis, we studied the relationship among platelet counts, serum thrombopoietin (TPO) level and spleen index.


METHODS
Serum TPO, platelet counts and spleen index were measured in 71 cirrhotic patients. TPO was measured with ELISA method, spleen index were measured on ultrasonography by the same doctor.


RESULTS
Platelet counts in patients with cirrhosis were lower than that of healthy group [(109.20+/-53.39) vs (169.63+/-26.60) x 10(12)/L, P<0.05]. Serum thrombopoietin level in patients with cirrhosis was similar to that of healthy group [(436.42+/-258.97) vs (412.63+/-132.80) pg/ml, P>0.05]. However, serum thrombopoietin level decreased as liver disease aggravated, [(526.13+/-317.44) pg/ml in Child-Pugh grade A, (445.22+/-214.90) pg/ml in grade B and (311.45+/-182.66) pg/ml in grade C, grade A vs. Grade C, P<0.05]. However, decline in platelet counts was accompanied with incline in spleen index coordinately. 35 of 71 cirrhotic patients had normal platelet counts whereas 36 of them had thrombocytopenia. Thrombopoietin levels were higher in non-thrombocytopenia group than in thrombocytopenia group [(529.43+/-282.64) vs. (351.27+/-228.25)pg/ml, P<0.01]; but spleen index of two groups showed no difference [(29.65+/-12.00) vs. (36.35+/-12.68) cm2, P>0.05]. Correlation was found between thrombopoietin level and platelet counts (r=0.252, P=0.025); no correlation was found between spleen index and platelet counts (r=-0.238, P=0.062).


CONCLUSIONS
The decline serum TPO levels might play an important role for thrombocytopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Li
Qin
Q
Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
Sun
Gui-zhen
GZ
Wang
Bao-en
BE
Jia
Ji-dong
JD
Ma
Hong
H
Wei
Yu-xiang
YX
Cong
Yu-long
YL
Shen
Jing
J
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood*
D013926:Thrombopoietin