DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i05.036

Pages: 1632-1639

Egypt has the highest hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence all over the world. Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in subjects with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the study was to measure different platelet parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C.This study included twenty age and sex-matched healthy volunteers as a control (Group I), 40 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) (Group II), and 50 patients with chronic HCV (Group III). All subjects were subjected to: full history taking, thorough clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, mean platelet volume (MPV), liver function tests, prothrombin time (PT), platelet aggregation in response to collagen and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and IgG platelet antibodies (PA-IgG).The Patients showed significantly decreased platelet counts and increased MPV compared to controls. A statistically significant defective platelet aggregation function was recorded in patients with HCV versus those with HBV or the control group. PA-IgGwas significantly more prevalent (62%) in patients with HCV than in HBV group (35%). There was a significant positive correlation between Child Pugh score and MPV, platelet aggregation response to collagen and ADP. Thrombocytopenia and qualitative platelet defects were common findings in chronic virus hepatitis patients especially in those with HCV and may play a role in further aggravating the condition. The clinical progression of the liver disease was associated with more thrombocytopenia and qualitative platelet dysfunctions.