FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

Background: Thrombocytopenia is the most prevalent hematological disorder in patients with liver cirrhosis and is often related to portal hypertension, hypersplenism and late-stage liver disease.

Objective: To determine the frequency, severity and clinical correlates of thrombocytopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: The study design was descriptive cross-sectional method conducted in Medical Units I, II and III GIMS, Gambat from January 2025 to June 2025 in General medicine Out Patient Department. The sampling technique was non-probability consecutive sampling with 247 patients with cirrhosis of liver included. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and ultrasound findings were recorded. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet count <150,000/mm3, which was divided into mild, moderate and severe grades. Analysis of data was done by SPSS version 26.0.

Results: The mean age of patients was 48.6 ± 12.4 years. Out of 247 patients, 147 (59.5%) were males and 100 (40.5%) were females. Two hundred (81.0%) of these patients had thrombocytopenia. Mild thrombocytopenia was observed in 84 (34.0%), moderate in 81 (32.8%) and severe in 35 (14.2%) patients. Splenomegaly, ascites, esophageal varices, gastrointestinal bleeding, Child-Pugh class C and jaundice were found to be significantly associated with thrombocytopenia. On ultrasound examination, the liver surface was nodular, and the liver echotexture was coarse, with splenomegaly and ascites and portal vein dilatation.

Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was extremely common in liver cirrhosis and was significantly associated with advanced cirrhosis and complications of portal hypertension.