Does lowered platelet count mean fibrosis/cirrhosis?

[slider41]

I recently had by blood drawn after a varicose vein in my leg openned up.  The doc in the ER wondered why I took so long to clot and ordered the labs.  Thus, I was told that my platlet count was a bit low- 126,000.  I have lawyas watched this as I have been told this is a sign of things getting worse as far as the Chronic Hep C infection in my body.  My AST and ALT have been normal for many years.  I was probably infected with Hep C 39 years ago as a teenager.  I am now 55 years old and wonder if this is now a sign that the Hep C has progressed to cirrhosis.  I have made an appt. with my gastro doc for next month to go over otpions.  I am also worried because I know that Interferon Tx lowers paltelets evven more so.  So again, my main question is Does lowered platelet count a sign that liver disease has progressed to lat4e stage fibrosis/cirrhosis?  Any help you can give me is greatly apprciated.

[rupinchem]

my platelets are at 126000. I am diabetic on oral medication, recently i was having high fever and possibly bacterial infection,
my docor is treating me for malaria.
i have light pain on my liver. i have a history of jaundice at age 26 and i am 57 now.
my blood tests indicate mega platelets as well.

[rupinchem]

my platelets are at 126000. I am diabetic on oral medication, recently i was having high fever and possibly bacterial infection,
my docor is treating me for malaria.
i have light pain on my liver. i have a history of jaundice at age 26 and i am 57 now.
my blood tests indicate mega platelets as well.

[HectorSF]

126,000 is only slightly low. (I have cirrhosis and an enlarged spleen so my platelet count is usually around 70,000. Three weeks after stopping treatment my count is 32,000. I went down to 26,000 during my 12th week of treatment. Low plate count was the first indication that I had cirrhosis).

Yes interferon will drop your platelets. But it looks like you have a good amount to start with.

What are your AST, ALT, and INR values? Using these values plus platelet count you can predict if you have cirrhosis.

Have you been taking asprin lately? That could lower the platelets. For your other meds that will lower platelets look below.

GRADING OF THROMBOCYTOPENIA2
Normal: 150,000 to 400,000 platelets/mm3
Mild: 50,000 to 150,000 platelets/mm3
Moderate: 25,000 to 50,000 platelets/mm3
Severe:  Pregnancy, which may cause mild thrombocytopenia.
> Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a condition in which your immune system mistakenly identifies platelets as a threat and forms antibodies that attack them.
> Other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, which may lead to destruction of platelets due to a malfunctioning immune system.
> Blood poisoning from severe bacterial infections (bacteremia), which may lead to destruction of platelets.
> Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs when small blood clots suddenly form throughout your body, using up large numbers of platelets. TTP sometimes happens as a result of a genetic deficiency, but more often the cause is unknown. In some cases, it may be associated with infection or a chronic illness.
> Hemolytic uremic syndrome, another rare disorder that causes a sharp drop in platelets, destruction of red blood cells and impairment of kidney function. Sometimes, this can occur in association with a bacterial Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection, such as may be acquired from eating raw or undercooked meat (often hamburger).
Certain medications can cause a thrombocytopenic reaction by confusing the immune system and causing it to destroy platelets.
**Examples include aspirin, heparin, quinidine, quinine, sulfa-containing antibiotics, some oral diabetes drugs, gold salts and rifampin. **
In some cases, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia can cause excessive blood clotting instead of bleeding, increasing the risk of clot formation deep within a leg blood vessel or the transport of such a clot to your lungs, which can be life-threatening.

Trapping of platelets in the spleen
The spleen is a small organ about the size of your fist located just below your rib cage on the left side of your abdomen. Normally, your spleen works to fight infection and filter unwanted material from your blood. An enlarged spleen — which can be caused by a number of disorders (including cirrhosis) — may harbor too many platelets, causing a decrease in the number of platelets in circulation.

What does your last biopsy say about the condition of your liver?
Stage? Grade?


Hope this helps.
Hector

[Texas714]

I can tell you that even tho your platelet count may be low, mine was lower and I have been able to do tx.  Being on tx did run it lower but it has not prevented me from tx.  As a matter of fact, the last blood work I had done reflected they were up about 5 points...if you call it points!  :-)  
I'm sure you will feel better about your situtation after you see your doctor.  

[slider41]

Thanks for your reply.  The meds I currently take are as follows:

Atenolol 25 mg bid; Altace 5mg qd; aciphex 20mg qd; Aspirin 325mg qd; Zantac 300mg bid prn; lasix 20mg qd prn; Qxycontin 80 mg qd; Roxicodone 105mg bid prn (chronic pain);  I hope this helps.  Thanks again for your help

Harry

[MKAndrew]

Sometimes medications can lower platelet count, although a "bit low" platelet count isn't unusual for any HCV patient.  You could even have a virus unrelated to HCV.  Let me know about your meds.

Thanks

Miles