Antiplatelet antibodies in chronic hepatitis C patients: correlation with platelet count and viral load

Background HCV associated thrombocytopenia is one of the most frequent manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; which typically worsens with progression of the liver disease and can become a major clinical complication that prevents chronic HCV patients from receiving the standard peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy. The aim of the present work was to study the role of anti-platelet antibodies in the pathogenesis of HCV-associated thrombocytopenia and to correlate it with the extent of thrombocytopenia, level of viremia, and ALT level in patients with chronic HCV infection. Patients and Methods This study was conducted on 200 patients with chronic HCV, divided into 2 groups, group I included 100 patients with normal platelet count (platelet count ≥150 × 109 /L), whereas group II included 100 patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count 150 × 109 /L). Direct and indirect anti-platelet antibodies were detected by flowcytometry and immunofluorescence respectively. The results demonstrated statistically significant correlations between presence of anti-platelet antibodies and degree of thrombocytopenia, viral load, and the extent of the liver damage.