The change of platelet count in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis after the splenectomy

Objective To analyze the change of platelet count in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis after the splenectomy and its related factors.Methods Seventy cases of posthepatitic cirrhosis with hypersplenism were enrolled who were hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2003 to December 2008.Patients' data including platelet count,liver function and myelogramm before and after the splenectomy were retrospectively analyzed.Results Patients were divided into three groups according to the Child-Pugh classification.The percentage of patients whose platelet counts were normalized after operation was 97.6%(40/41)in stage A,79.2%(19/24)in stage B and 60%(3/5)in stage C respectively.Correlation was found between the Child-Pugh classification and the normalized platelet count.And the less liver function was impaired,the higher platelet counts were elevated(P0.05).No remarkable correlation was found between the levels of bone marrow proliferation and elevated platelet count after the splenectomy.Conclusion Splenectomy is one of the main effective treatments for thrombocytopenia in posthepatitic cirrhosis patients with hypersplenism.Evaluation of liver function before splenectomy may help to predict the recovery of platelet count.