The prevalence and co-occurrence of hematological complications at the time of diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C in Poland: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the frequency, co-occurrence, and risk factors for hematological complications at the time of diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC).


METHODS
This study included 1237 patients with CHC aged 18-88 years diagnosed in the years 1998-2010 in the Pomeranian region of Poland. Clinical data, cell blood count, liver biopsy, and biochemistry results were obtained retrospectively.


RESULTS
Hematological complications were found in 31% of patients. The most frequent complication was thrombocytopenia (23.8%). The multivariate analysis showed a 5.1-fold increased risk (P<0.05) of at least one additional hematological complication in patients with thrombocytopenia. The greatest increase in risk (7.3) was related to leukopenia and cryoglobulinemia (2.3). The risk of leukopenia was correlated with the severity of thrombocytopenia. The risk of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia increased significantly from, respectively, stages 3 and 2 of liver fibrosis compared with patients without fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CHC, decreases in cell blood count occur quite frequently. The most often is mild and solitary thrombocytopenia, but if severe, it may be accompanied by leukopenia, especially in women. The presence of thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in patients with CHC may indicate advanced liver fibrosis or its final stage: cirrhosis.
Departments of aHygiene and Epidemiology bInfectious Diseases cOncological Propaedeutics, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Pierucka
Piotr
P
Stalke
Paweł
P
Zagożdżon
Tomasz
T
Smiatacz
Jan M
JM
Zaucha
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult