title: Improvement of thrombocytopenia in hepatitis C-related advanced fibrosis patients after sustained virological response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term trend of platelet count in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with sustained virological response (SVR) has rarely been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate changes of thrombocytopenia after SVR, trajectory patterns of platelet count over time and their associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1999 to July 2005, a total of 135 patients (mean age 50.2 ± 11.1 years) that received interferon-α based regimen plus ribavirin were enrolled. Platelet counts were followed every 6 months prospectively. The patterns of platelet counts over time were identified by trajectory analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up duration was 4.4 ± 1.7 years (median 4.5; range 1.0-8.5 years). Baseline platelet count in all and thrombocytopenic patients increase significantly at the end of follow-up, from 172 ± 56 × 10(9)/l and 115 ± 21 × 10(9)/l to 196 ± 57 × 10(9)/l and 148 ± 37 × 10(9)/l, respectively (all p < 0.001). In patients with advanced fibrosis (n = 50), pretreatment platelet count also increased significantly (146 ± 45 × 10(9)/l vs. 173 ± 51 × 10(9)/l, p < 0.001). Twenty-six of 37 (69.2 %) patients with pretreatment mild thrombocytopenia (100-150 × 10(9)/l) had normalization of platelet count, while seven of 13 (53.8 %) patients with pretreatment moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (<100 × 10(9)/l) had elevation of platelet count up to 100-150 × 10(9)/l. Three trajectory groups were identified, i.e., elevation (n = 43, 31.9 %), stationary (n = 79, 58.5 %), and decrease (n = 13, 9.6 %) groups. Multiple logistic regression showed pretreatment thrombocytopenia was the factor in elevation of platelet count (OR = 2.28, 95 % confidence interval = 1.01-5.11, p = 0.046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet count increased significantly in patients with SVR after long-term follow-up. Patients with low baseline platelet count benefit more from SVR with respect to increased platelet count, compared to those with higher platelet count at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung District, Kaohsiung City, 833, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kwong-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Jing-Houng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sheng-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin