title: Hepatitis C and neutropenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review describes the pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of neutropenia in patients with hepatitis C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild-to-moderate neutropenia is increasingly recognized as the hepatitis C population has caused increased cirrhosis. Multiple mechanisms for the neutropenia have been postulated, with recent evidence pointing toward a combination of hypersplenism, autoimmunity, and direct viral infection of bone marrow cells. Advances in antiviral therapy are associated with worsened neutropenia and dose modification. Severe neutropenia is underreported and is generally not associated with increased rates of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although neutropenia is common in hepatitis C patients it generally has a benign course and may not prohibit antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: aTexas Children's Hematology Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas bDivision of Hematology-Oncology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Tennessee Health Science Center cDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Vivien A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Alva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Bradford
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000821:virology; D019468:Disease Management; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents