Are platelet count and alt level, markers of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC)?

ARE PLATELET COUNT AND ALT LEVEL, MARKERS OF LIVER FIBROSIS IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C (CHC)? A. Capretti l, M.T. Taddei 1, D. Spotti l, G. Belloni 2, L. Ferrari 2, C. Spalanzani 2, G. Croce 1 ~San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan, Italy. aPoliclinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Trombocytopenia is often observed in patients (pts) with CHC, and it is related with severity of illness, not the same for ALT level. The correlations between Platelet count or ALT level respect fibrosis score, are poorly defined. Aim: to correlate Trembocytopenia and ALT level with biopsy finding in pts with CHC. Methods: we have analyzed data of 219 consecutive HCV positive pts (99 females,120 males, mean age 49+11, with Chronic Hepatitis and liver biopsy scored according to Ishaak criteria ). Pts with complete cirrhosis were excluded. We used Student't test and correlation coefficient to find relations of Platelet count and ALT level to Staging. Results: Staging 0 1-2 3 4 5 Pts 13 143 38 16 9 ALT 53.¢26 110-.k71 127".'.'~0 210~193 134;k53 p< 0~005 n. s. p= 0,029 n. s. Platelet 232~45 204~61 172-~53 1544-45 110-~31 n . s . p< 0,004 n . s . p= 0,016 We found stalJstically significant negative correlation between Platelet count and Staging (r = -0,4, p=0,0001); and positive correlation between ALT and Staging (r = + 0,3, p = 0,0001) Conclusions: Platelet count is significantly lower with advancing of fibrosis: it could be a simple test for predicting liver fibrosis in CHC. Less evident is ALl" to fibrosis correlation. Miscellaneous