The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease
Oscar Mitchell,1 David M Feldman,1,2 Marla Diakow,1 Samuel H Sigal3 1Department of Medicine, 2Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York, 3Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefior...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2016-04-01
|
| Series: | Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/the-pathophysiology-of-thrombocytopenia-in-chronic-liver-disease-peer-reviewed-article-HMER |
| _version_ | 1818854006970122240 |
|---|---|
| author | Mitchell O Feldman DM Diakow M Sigal SH |
| author_facet | Mitchell O Feldman DM Diakow M Sigal SH |
| author_sort | Mitchell O |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oscar Mitchell,1 David M Feldman,1,2 Marla Diakow,1 Samuel H Sigal3 1Department of Medicine, 2Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York, 3Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA Abstract: Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematological abnormality encountered in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). In addition to being an indicator of advanced disease and poor prognosis, it frequently prevents crucial interventions. Historically, thrombocytopenia has been attributed to hypersplenism, which is the increased pooling of platelets in a spleen enlarged by congestive splenomegaly secondary to portal hypertension. Over the past decade, however, there have been significant advances in the understanding of thrombopoiesis, which, in turn, has led to an improved understanding of thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis. Multiple factors contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia and these can broadly be divided into those that cause decreased production, splenic sequestration, and increased destruction. Depressed thrombopoietin levels in CLD, together with direct bone marrow suppression, result in a reduced rate of platelet production. Thrombopoietin regulates both platelet production and maturation and is impaired in CLD. Bone marrow suppression can be caused by viruses, alcohol, iron overload, and medications. Splenic sequestration results from hypersplenism. The increased rate of platelet destruction in cirrhosis also occurs through a number of pathways: increased shear stress, increased fibrinolysis, bacterial translocation, and infection result in an increased rate of platelet aggregation, while autoimmune disease and raised titers of antiplatelet immunoglobulin result in the immunologic destruction of platelets. An in-depth understanding of the complex pathophysiology of the thrombocytopenia of CLD is crucial when considering treatment strategies. This review outlines the recent advances in our understanding of thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis and CLD. Keywords: cirrhosis, thrombocytopenia, thrombopoietin |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T07:45:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eba3a73a6086437185bac69f066aa6f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1535 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T07:45:51Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-eba3a73a6086437185bac69f066aa6f22022-12-21T20:30:18ZengDove Medical PressHepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research1179-15352016-04-012016Issue 1395026455The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver diseaseMitchell OFeldman DMDiakow MSigal SHOscar Mitchell,1 David M Feldman,1,2 Marla Diakow,1 Samuel H Sigal3 1Department of Medicine, 2Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York, 3Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA Abstract: Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematological abnormality encountered in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). In addition to being an indicator of advanced disease and poor prognosis, it frequently prevents crucial interventions. Historically, thrombocytopenia has been attributed to hypersplenism, which is the increased pooling of platelets in a spleen enlarged by congestive splenomegaly secondary to portal hypertension. Over the past decade, however, there have been significant advances in the understanding of thrombopoiesis, which, in turn, has led to an improved understanding of thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis. Multiple factors contribute to the development of thrombocytopenia and these can broadly be divided into those that cause decreased production, splenic sequestration, and increased destruction. Depressed thrombopoietin levels in CLD, together with direct bone marrow suppression, result in a reduced rate of platelet production. Thrombopoietin regulates both platelet production and maturation and is impaired in CLD. Bone marrow suppression can be caused by viruses, alcohol, iron overload, and medications. Splenic sequestration results from hypersplenism. The increased rate of platelet destruction in cirrhosis also occurs through a number of pathways: increased shear stress, increased fibrinolysis, bacterial translocation, and infection result in an increased rate of platelet aggregation, while autoimmune disease and raised titers of antiplatelet immunoglobulin result in the immunologic destruction of platelets. An in-depth understanding of the complex pathophysiology of the thrombocytopenia of CLD is crucial when considering treatment strategies. This review outlines the recent advances in our understanding of thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis and CLD. Keywords: cirrhosis, thrombocytopenia, thrombopoietinhttps://www.dovepress.com/the-pathophysiology-of-thrombocytopenia-in-chronic-liver-disease-peer-reviewed-article-HMERCirrhosisThrombocytopeniaThrombopoietin |
| spellingShingle | Mitchell O Feldman DM Diakow M Sigal SH The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease Hepatic Medicine: Evidence and Research Cirrhosis Thrombocytopenia Thrombopoietin |
| title | The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| title_full | The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| title_fullStr | The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| title_short | The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| title_sort | pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease |
| topic | Cirrhosis Thrombocytopenia Thrombopoietin |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/the-pathophysiology-of-thrombocytopenia-in-chronic-liver-disease-peer-reviewed-article-HMER |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mitchello thepathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT feldmandm thepathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT diakowm thepathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT sigalsh thepathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT mitchello pathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT feldmandm pathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT diakowm pathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease AT sigalsh pathophysiologyofthrombocytopeniainchronicliverdisease |