Plasma Thrombopoietin Level in Thrombocytopenic Patients with or without Liver Cirrhosis Chronically Infected by the Hepatitis C Virus

Background and Aim: Thrombocytopenia is a frequent problem in patients with post- hepatitis C (HCV) liver cirrhosis and also occurs in chronic HCV-infected patients without liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) in the occurrence of thrombocytopenia in both conditions. Method: Platelet count and plasma thrombopoietin level and liver function tests were measured in four groups of patients: twenty chronic patients with post-hepatitis C liver cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia (group I), ten chronic HCV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis without