Background-Thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients may be due to deficient production of thrombopoietin. Aims-To determine the relation between thrombopoietin and thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients before and after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Methods-Thrombopoietinconcentrations and platelet counts were measured in 43 cirrhotic patients and 21 normal controls and serially for 14 days after transplantation in 23/43 patients. Results-27 of the 43 patients had thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 120 × 10 9 /l; group 1) whereas 16 patients had normal platelet count (group 2). Thrombopoietin concentrations were lower in group 1 than in group 2 (92. Conclusions-Inadequate thrombopoietin production may contribute to cirrhotic thrombocytopenia. Thrombopoietin production is restored after liver transplantation leading to the resolution of thrombocytopenia. (Gut 1999;44:754-758)
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