Correlation Between Thrombocytopenia, Splenomegaly and Serum Thrombopoietin (TPO) of Viral Hepatitis Patients

Objective To study the correlation between thrombocytopenia, splenomegaly and serum thrombopoietin (TPO) levels of viral hepatitis patients and explore the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia of viral hepatitis. Methods Spleen sizes of 58 viral hepatitis with thrombocytopenia (Group A), 48 viral hepatitis with normal platelet count (Group B) and 20 healthy controls (Group C) were assessed by abdominal colour ultrasound B scan ,and the serum TPO levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results The spleen thickness as a marker of splenomegaly was significantly higher in group A (50.49±13.58 mm) than in group B (38.45±8.14 mm) (P0.01) and in group C (32.25±3.73 mm) (P0.01), and an inverse correlation between platelet count and spleen size was observed ( r=-0.553, P0.01). Serum TPO levels were significantly lower in group A (88.05±17.09 pg/mL) than in group B (100.20±17.63 pg/mL) (P0.01) and in group C (108.96±25.90 pg/mL) (P0.01), and platelet count was correlated with serum TPO levels (r=0.407, P0.01). Conclusion Thrombocytopenia of viral hepatitis was correlated with splenomegaly and decrease of serum TPO levels.