Thrombocytopenia: Frequency and Severity in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76i3.13443Keywords:
Ascites; Chronic Liver Disease; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; ThrombocytopeniaAbstract
Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic liver disease.
Study design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of study: Department of General Medicine & Gastroenterology, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jul 24 to Mar 25.
Methodology: This study included 248 patients aged 18 to 75 years, including both genders, diagnosed with a case of chronic liver disease. Platelet counts were measured, and thrombocytopenia was categorized as mild, moderate, and severe, and its association was analyzed with chronic viral hepatitis B and C, and severity of liver dysfunction and clinical staging of liver disease.
Results: Among 248 patients, 138(55.6%) were male, and 110(44.4%) were female, with a mean age of 52.5± 11.48 years. Thrombocytopenia was present in 99(39.9%) patients, with 27(10.9%) mild, 47(19.0%) moderate, and 31(12.5%) severe thrombocytopenia. Of the 248 patients, 118(47.6%) had a disease duration ≤ 12 months, while 130(52.4%) had >12 months. Jaundice was present in 123(49.6%), splenomegaly in 157(63.3%), and ascites in 75 (30.2%). 109(44%) patients labeled as Child Pugh Class A, while 78(31.5%) as Child Pugh Class B and 61(24.6%) as Child Pugh Class C. Thrombocytopenia was more prevalent in patient with chronic hepatitis C [69 (47.58%)] than chronic hepatitis B [30 (29.12%)], and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.003).
Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is frequently seen in patients with chronic liver disease, and it varies from mild to severe in chronic liver disease, from the compensated to the decompensated stage. It is significantly associated with viral causes of hepatitis.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sidra Saeed, Muhammad Naeem Qureshi, Fuad Ahmad Siddiqi, Shahzad Ashraf, Ahmar Rashid, Laibah Safdar
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