Published in:
01-12-2007 | Original Article
Hypersplenism is related to age of onset of liver disease
Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) | Issue 4/2007
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Background
The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypersplenism is related to the age of onset of liver disease.
Methods
Hypersplenism was assessed in 84 consecutive cirrhotic patients attending a university hospital liver clinic.
Results
Hypersplenism was present in 78% of patients and severe in 39%. Severe hypersplenism was more common in patients with cystic fibrosis liver disease (88%, P < 0.0001) and autoimmune hepatitis (60%, P = 0.0006) compared to alcoholic cirrhosis (12%). There was a significant correlation between patient age and platelet count r = 0.525, P < 0.0001 in the group as a whole and for the sub-group of patients with autoimmune hepatitis r = 0.54, P = 0.047. There was a negative correlation between age and spleen size r = −0.611, P < 0.0001.
Conclusion
Younger patients had lower platelet counts, larger spleens and a higher incidence of hypersplenism suggesting that hypersplenism is significantly related to the age of onset of chronic liver disease.