title: PLATELET INDICES AND LIVER FIBROSIS EVALUATION IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C.
abstract: Recently, several studies have reported that the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width may give information about liver fibrosis severity in chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether platelet indices correlate with hepatic fibrosis measured by transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic hepatitis C were prospectively enrolled. Samples for complete blood count and routine biochemical parameters were collected and analyzed in the same day with liver fibrosis assessment by transient elastography. Mean platelet volume, platelet large cell ratio and platelet distribution width were compared with stages of liver fibrosis. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0 software. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 139 patients with chronic hepatitis C (70.5% males, mean age 54.8 +/- 16.7 years). Compared with mild/moderate liver fibrosis patients, those with advanced liver fibrosis had an increased mean platelet volume (10.4 +/- 0.7 vs. 10.9 +/- 0.9, p < 0.002), platelet large cell ratio (28.5 +/- 5.3 vs. 32.5 +/- 7.2, P < 0.0001), and platelet distribution width (12.8 +/- 1.5 vs. 14.1 +/- 2.7, P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased platelet indices were associated with advanced liver fibrosis stages evaluated by transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gîrleanu
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trifan
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sîngeap
authors.forename: Oana Cristina
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Stoica
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cojocariu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stanciu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index