Hepatitis C virus infection among patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura in northern India

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology
Subhash VarmaRadha K Dhiman

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported to be associated with the occurrence of autoimmune disorders, including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This has suggested that HCV could be responsible for thrombocytopenia in these patients. This study was performed to estimate the frequency of HCV infection in patients of chronic ITP (cITP), and to find the frequency of thrombocytopenia in chronic HCV infection. A total of 150 subjects were included in the study. Fifty consecutive adult patients with cITP (< 6 months' duration) and 50 age-matched patients with chronic HCV were included for comparison of platelet counts in two groups. Fifty age-matched healthy subjects were also included in the control group. All patients' sera were tested for the presence or absence of HCV-RNA. Anti-HCV antibodies were tested in patients as well as in controls. Complete blood count and examination of peripheral blood smear were done followed by bone-marrow aspiration to confirm the diagnosis of ITP. Three patients (6%) were tested positive for anti-HCV antibodies while no subject was positive in control group (P=0.24). The prevalence of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts <50,000/mL) was significantly higher in ITP patients compared with ...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 17, 2021·Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology·Rajeev SandalAhmad Daniyal Siddiqui

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