Assessment Prevalence of Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis B and C

Thrombocytopenia is a common complication in chronic liver disease characterized by a low platelet count, which is lower than the normal platelet count < 150 X10 9. The condition had variable incidence, regarding viral hepatitis and is more common in hepatitis C than B. Aim of the study: Assess the prevalence of thrombocytopenia (lower than normal platelet count) in patients proved to have hepatitis B and C by RNA testing. Cross sectional study included 50 viral hepatitis patients (HCV and HBV diagnosed previously), all patients were evaluated for complete blood count and liver function test. Males were forming 68% of all participant, 58% were HBV patients and 42% were HCV patients. The overall prevalence of Thrombocytopenia was 46%. The mean platelet level in HCV was177.43 ± 18.19 with higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia (60.9% vs 39.1%) in hepatitis C than B, with no association between gender and liver functions. Thrombocytopenia one of common complications in viral hepatitis, despite that both HCV and HBV had lower platelet count in comparison to normal person, the count is much more lower in HCV patients with higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia in compare to HBV that is more common in male gender.