PLATELET INDICES AND LIVER FIBROSIS EVALUATION IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Recently, several studies have reported that the mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width may give information about liver fibrosis severity in chronic hep atitis C. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether platelet indices correlate with hepatic fibrosis measured by transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Materials and methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis C were prospectively enrolled. Samples for complete blood count and routine biochemical parameters were collected and analyzed in the same day with liver fibrosis assessment by transient elastography. Mean platelet volume, platelet large cell ratio and platelet distribution width were compared with stages of liver fibrosis. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0 software. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There were 139 patients with chronic hepatitis C (70.5% males, mean age 54.8 +/- 16.7 years). Compared with mild/moderate liver fibrosis patients, those with advanced liver fibrosis had an increased mean platelet volume (10.4 +/- 0.7vs. 10.9 +/- 0.9, p<0.002), platelet large cell ratio (28.5 +/- 5.3 vs. 32.5 +/- 7.2, P<0.0001), and platelet distribution width (12.8 +/- 1.5 vs. 14.1 +/- 2.7, P=0.003). Conclusions: Increased platelet indices were associated with advanced liver fibrosis stages evaluated by transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis C.