THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN CHRONIC HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS : IMPACT OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIGENAEMIA

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a frequent problem of ESRD patients treated by haemodialysis. The frequency of thrombocytopenia is 25 - 30% in haemodialysis patients. The factors effect on platelet count are unknown completely. Thrombocytopenia was not found to be correlated with dialysis adequacy, parathyroid dysfunction or with dialysis membrane biocompatibility. Thrombocytopenia was most frequent in the HCV positive haemodialysis patients. The effect of HCV antigenaemia on thrombocytopenia was not clarified. This study concluded 150 patients with ESRD treated by haemodialysis. 100 patients of them are PCR positive for HCV RNA and 50 patients are PCR negative for HCV RNA as well as 50 patients who had positive PCR for HCV RNA but they didn't undergo CRF as a control matched for age and sex. All patients and controls were subjected to full medical history and clinical examination, CBC, kidney function tests, liver function tests, HCV RNA by PCR and abdominal ultrasonography. The results of this study showed significant presence of thrombocytopenia among the HCV positive patients who don't undergo dialysis and among the HCV negative patients with CRF on regular haemodialysis.