Frequency of Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis C

Nadia Khan; Hakim Ali  Abro; Sultan Ahmed; Rukhsar Hanif Shaikh; Almas Muneer

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i6.1788

Authors

Nadia Khan Department of Medicine, CMC Hospital, Larkana, Pakistan
Hakim Ali Abro Department of Medicine, CMC Hospital, Larkana, Pakistan
Sultan Ahmed Department of Medicine, CMC Hospital, Larkana, Pakistan
Rukhsar Hanif Shaikh Department of Medicine, CMC Hospital, Larkana, Pakistan
Almas Muneer Department of Medicine, CMC Hospital, Larkana, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i6.1788

Keywords:

Chronic Hepatitis C, Infection, Thrombocytopenia, Virus

Abstract

Background: Thrombocytopenia, characterized by a reduced platelet count, is commonly reported with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Effective management of thrombocytopenia in HCV-infected patients typically involves addressing the underlying viral infection, monitoring platelet levels, and implementing treatments to manage the platelet count or alleviate symptoms. Objective: To find out the frequency of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study on chronic hepatitis C patients was conducted at the Medicine department of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Hospital Larkana. The study duration was six months, from September 27, 2023, to March 26, 2024. One hundred and fifty-nine patients were consecutively enrolled and assessed for chronic HCV duration, symptoms and treatment. Blood samples were collected aseptically and evaluated for complete blood count (CBC) to confirm thrombocytopenia. Data was recorded in a predesigned proforma and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Of the 159 chronic HCV patients, thrombocytopenia was found in 30.2% (n=48) patients. Male patients were 66.0% (n=105) and female patients were 34.0% (n=54). The mean age was 41.68 years with a standard deviation of ±13.01. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was present in a significant number of the patients presented with chronic HCV infection. This highlights the significance of monitoring platelet levels in patients with chronic HCV to manage and mitigate potential complications.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Li X, Wang L, Gao P. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: relationships between inflammatory marker levels and compensated liver cirrhosis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(39):e17300.

https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000017300

Basit H, Tyagi I, Koirala J. Hepatitis C. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.

Moosavy SH, Davoodian P, Nazarnezhad MA, Nejatizaheh A, Eftekhar E, Mahboobi H. Epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, and outcome of Hepatitis C virus infection. Electron Physician. 2017 Oct 25;9(10):5646-56.

https://doi.org/10.19082/5646

World Health Organization. Hepatitis C: Fact sheets. Switzerland. Geneva: WHO; 2024.

Ishaq MU, Rasheed F. Viral Hepatitis in Pakistan: A global concern. J Pak Med Assoc. 2024 Jul;74(7):1391.

https://doi.org/10.47391/jpma.20194

Farhan M, Fazal F, Dave T, Butt A, Basit J, Maqbool S. National hepatitis registry in Pakistan: a dire need for hepatitis surveillance and control. Trop Med Health. 2023 Aug 4;51(1):41.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-023-00534-8

Cacoub P, Saadoun D. Extrahepatic manifestations of chronic HCV infection. N Eng J Med. 2021 Mar 18;384(11):1038-52.

https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra2033539

Mazzaro C, Quartuccio L, Adinolfi LE, Roccatello D, Pozzato G, Nevola R, et al. A review on extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus infection and the impact of direct-acting antiviral therapy. Viruses. 2021 Nov 9;13(11):2249.

https://doi.org/10.3390/v13112249

Jinna S, Khandhar PB. Thrombocytopenia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.

Santoshi RK, Patel R, Patel NS, Bansro V, Chhabra G. A Comprehensive review of thrombocytopenia with a spotlight on intensive care patients. Cureus. 2022 Aug 5;14(8):e27718.

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27718

Huang CE, Chang JJ, Wu YY, Huang SH, Chen WM, Hsu CC, et al. Different impacts of common risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia in patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Biomed J. 2022 Oct 1;45(5):788-97.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2021.09.001

Rawi S, Wu GY. Pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in chronic HCV infection: a review. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2020 Apr 15;8(2):184-91.

https://doi.org/10.14218/jcth.2020.00007

Rasizadeh R, Ebrahimi F, Kermanshahi AZ, Sorkhabi AD, Sarkesh A, Nahand JS, et al. Viruses and thrombocytopenia. Heliyon. 2024 Mar 30;10(6):e27844.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27844

Raadsen M, Du Toit J, Langerak T, van Bussel B, van Gorp E, Goeijenbier M. Thrombocytopenia in virus infections. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 20;10(4):877.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10040877

Sarwar K, Zahoor SZ, Tipu I. HCV induced thrombocytopenia in Punjab, Pakistan. Bio Sci Rev. 2020;2(1):19-27.

https://doi.org/10.32350//bsr.0201.03

Modi D, Chowdhury SR, Mahamad S, Modi H, Cines DB, Neunert CE, et al. Primary versus secondary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): a meeting report from the 2023 McMaster ITP Summit. Thromb Haemost. 2025 Jan 20.

https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2508-1112

Suhail M, Sohrab SS, Kamal MA, Azhar EI. Role of hepatitis c virus in hepatocellular carcinoma and neurological disorders: an overview. Front Oncol. 2022 Jul 29;12:913231.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.913231

Cuesta-Sancho S, Márquez-Coello M, Illanes-Álvarez F, Márquez-Ruiz D, Arizcorreta A, Galán-Sánchez F, et al. Hepatitis C: problems to extinction and residual hepatic and extrahepatic lesions after sustained virological response. World J Hepatol. 2022 Jan 27;14(1):62-79.

https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v14.i1.62

Yu H, Yu H, Sun Y, Wang FS, Lu Y. Chinese expert consensus on clinical management of hepatopathy-related thrombocytopenia (2023 edition). Hepatol Int. 2025 Feb 5:1-7.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-024-10755-6

Mititelu A, Onisâi MC, Roșca A, Vlădăreanu AM. Current understanding of immune thrombocytopenia: a review of pathogenesis and treatment options. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 10;25(4):2163.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042163

Rahman S, Rahman S, Khan S, Ahmad N, Rahman N. Frequency of thrombocytopenia in hepatitis C patients. J Med Sci. 2019;17(3):190-3.

Taqveem W, Tahir IM, Mehboob H, Munir N, Akhter N, Shaheen M, et al. Thrombocytopenia associated with chronic hepatis C infection. Pak J Med Biol Sci. 2019; 2(1):42-7.

Rehman MU, Afzal A, Mumtaz M, Zubair M, Bhutta N, Iqbal J. Frequency of HCV induced thrombocytopenia in Southern Punjab. Pak J Med Health Sci. 2022 Dec 6;16(09):991-2.

https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs22169991

Durib AK, Hassan ZA, Viktorovich ZM. Assessment Prevalence of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis B and C. Int J Health Sys Med Sci. 2024;03(03):181-93.

https://doi.org/10.51699/ijhsms.v3i3.3571

Dahal S, Upadhyay S, Banjade R, Dhakal P, Khanal N, Bhatt VR. Thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 1;9(1):e2017019.

https://doi.org/10.4084/mjhid.2017.019