Successful use of splenectomy in a patient with hepatitis C virus-related thrombocytopenia

This case report describes a 44-year-old female with hepatitis C virus-related thrombocytopenia. The laboratory tests showed a platelet count of 3×10⁹/l, positive HCV serology and high serum concentration of HCV-RNA of 6.74×10⁶ copy/ml. She was refractory to standard therapies including corticostero...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of infection in developing countries 2015-07, Vol.9 (7), p.785-787
Main Authors: Huang, Xilian, Xie, Yaping, Gao, Daquan, Shi, Pengfei, Qian, Shenxian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Case reports
Female
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C - complications
Humans
Interferon
Patients
Platelet Count
Splenectomy - methods
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia - etiology
Thrombocytopenia - therapy
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:This case report describes a 44-year-old female with hepatitis C virus-related thrombocytopenia. The laboratory tests showed a platelet count of 3×10⁹/l, positive HCV serology and high serum concentration of HCV-RNA of 6.74×10⁶ copy/ml. She was refractory to standard therapies including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), thrombopoietin (TPO) and even interferon (IFN) regimens, due to the persistence of a low platelet count. At first, splenectomy was thought to be impossible, but then splenectomy was successfully performed and patient showed good tolerance and a constant normal platelet count after surgery. In conclusion, splenectomy is feasible in selected patients and may allow us to acquire a reasonable platelet count and completion of an anti-HCV protocol. Low platelet count itself should not be the contraindication of operation specifically for these patients. Further studies in larger numbers of patients and over a longer period of time are warranted.
ISSN:1972-2680
2036-6590
1972-2680
DOI:10.3855/jidc.5084