title: More on the thrombocytopenia of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using only serologic determinations, we have previously found that thrombocytopenia presents in less than one half of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Employing a more accurate method to define the presence of NAFLD, serologic determinations (Fibromax®) coupled with liver transient elastography (TE/Fibroscan®), we have prospectively studied a group of 211 individuals with a suspicion of a liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NAFLD was identified in 81 individuals. In 48 persons another causes of liver damage were identified and discarded from further analysis. A subset of 33 patients with NAFLD without liver fibrosis or cirrhosis was analyzed. In eight of them (24%), thrombocytopenia (less than 150 × 109/l platelets) was identified. The presence of thrombocytopenia in this subset of persons was associated with overweight, was usually mild, above 50 × 109/l, was not associated to mucocutaneous bleeding and did not require treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFLD should be considered as a cause of mild thrombocytopenia. Our initial observation has been confirmed and defined more precisely. Additional studies are needed to further define more features of the thrombocytopenia of NAFLD, as well as its mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: a Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|b Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Olivares-Gazca
authors.affiliation: a Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|c Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Karen
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nuñez-Cortes
authors.affiliation: b Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|d Laboratorios Clínicos de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Mariana Alicia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendez-Huerta
authors.affiliation: a Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|e Universidad de las Américas Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Yahveth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cantero-Fortiz
authors.affiliation: a Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Gerardo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Orea-Martinez
authors.affiliation: a Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|b Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|d Laboratorios Clínicos de Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.|e Universidad de las Américas Puebla , Puebla , Mexico.
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Argüelles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: NAFLD; liver; platelets; thrombocytopenia