AU - Glal, Ali
AU - Shoeib, Sabry
AU - Abdelhafez, Mohammed
AU - Osman, Nahla
AU - Eldin, Waleed
AU - Abdelsala, Alaa
AU - Elgheriany, Walaa
TI - Prolactin contributes to the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in patients with hepatitis C virus
PT - ORIG
DP - 2017 Jan 1
TA - Menoufia Medical Journal
PG - 162-167
VI - 30
IP - 1
4099- http://www.mmj.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-2098;year=2017;volume=30;issue=1;spage=162;epage=167;aulast=Glal;type=0
4100- http://www.mmj.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-2098;year=2017;volume=30;issue=1;spage=162;epage=167;aulast=Glal
AB -
Objective
The aim of this work was to explore the role prolactin (PRL) in hepatitis C (HCV)-related thrombocytopenia.
Background
PRL is involved in the activation of a number of immunological responses. It enhances the progression of the immune process in autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity is a common finding in chronic hepatitis C, and a significant association between hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) and infection with HCV genotype 4 has been reported.
Materials and methods
This study was carried at the Internal Medicine Department, Menoufia University Hospital, in the period between May 2014 and December 2014. Three groups were involved: group I, which included 41 chronic hepatitis C patients with thrombocytopenia; group II, which included 35 chronic hepatitis C patients without thrombocytopenia; and group III, which included 25 healthy individuals with matched age and sex.
Results
Patients with HCV-related thrombocytopenia had HPRL and their serum PRL levels were significantly higher compared with HCV patients with normal platelet count and compared with normal controls (P = 0.02 and 0.001, respectively). We demonstrated negative correlation between HPRL and platelet count (r = 0.32 and P = 0.04). In addition, there was a significant difference in platelet count among different stages of liver fibrosis as the platelet count dropped steadily in line with the stage of fibrosis (P = 0.004).
Conclusion
This study shows that HPRL is present in a subset of patients with HCV-related thrombocytopenia and can be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in those patients. Thus, anti-PRL may be a treatment option in this category of patients.