Improvement of Thrombocytopenia in Hepatitis C-Related Advanced Fibrosis Patients After Sustained Virological Response

The long-term trend of platelet count in chronic hepatitis C virus patients with sustained virological response (SVR) has rarely been investigated.

To elucidate changes of thrombocytopenia after SVR, trajectory patterns of platelet count over time and their associated factors.

From May 1999 to July 2005, a total of 135 patients (mean age 50.2 ± 11.1 years) that received interferon-α based regimen plus ribavirin were enrolled. Platelet counts were followed every 6 months prospectively. The patterns of platelet counts over time were identified by trajectory analysis.

Mean follow-up duration was 4.4 ± 1.7 years (median 4.5; range 1.0–8.5 years). Baseline platelet count in all and thrombocytopenic patients increase significantly at the end of follow-up, from 172 ± 56 × 10⁹/l and 115 ± 21 × 10⁹/l to 196 ± 57 × 10⁹/l and 148 ± 37 × 10⁹/l, respectively (all p < 0.001). In patients with advanced fibrosis (n = 50), pretreatment platelet count also increased significantly (146 ± 45 × 10⁹/l vs. 173 ± 51 × 10⁹/l, p < 0.001). Twenty-six of 37 (69.2 %) patients with pretreatment mild thrombocytopenia (100–150 × 10⁹/l) had normalization of platelet count, while seven of 13 (53.8 %) patients with pretreatment moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (<100 × 10⁹/l) had elevation of platelet count up to 100–150 × 10⁹/l. Three trajectory groups were identified, i.e., elevation (n = 43, 31.9 %), stationary (n = 79, 58.5 %), and decrease (n = 13, 9.6 %) groups. Multiple logistic regression showed pretreatment thrombocytopenia was the factor in elevation of platelet count (OR = 2.28, 95 % confidence interval = 1.01–5.11, p = 0.046).

Platelet count increased significantly in patients with SVR after long-term follow-up. Patients with low baseline platelet count benefit more from SVR with respect to increased platelet count, compared to those with higher platelet count at baseline.