Thrombocytosis and hepatocellular carcinoma - PubMed (original) (raw)

Thrombocytosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Brian I Carr et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Thrombocytopenia has been reported to be both a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development as well as a prognostic factor. Many HCCs also occur in presence of normal platelets.

Aim: To examine a cohort of HCC patients with associated thrombocytosis.

Methods: Records were examined of a cohort of 634 biopsy-proven and randomly presenting HCC patients without thrombocytopenia.

Results: In the total cohort, 52 patients were identified with thrombocytosis (platelet levels >400 × 10(9)/L) and compared with 582 patients with normal platelet values. The average tumor sizes were 13.1 versus 8.8 cm (p < 0.0001), and their total average bilirubin levels were 0.9 versus 1.5 (p = 0.02), comparing thrombocytosis patients versus normal platelet count HCC patients. These differences were even more pronounced in patients with HCC sizes >5 cm. Thrombocytosis patients were younger and had less cirrhosis, but similar percent with hepatitis B or C or alcohol consumption.

Conclusion: Thrombocytosis in association with HCC occurs in patients with larger tumor sizes and better liver function.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest None.

Figures

Fig 1

Fig 1

Comparisons of maximum tumor size amongst HCC patients in different platelet ranges, in the total cohort. Values are mean ± standard error of the mean. Kruskal–Wallis rank test: p = 0.0001. Test for trend (Cuzick): p < 0.001

Fig 2

Fig 2

Kaplan–Meier survival probability for HCC patients with or without thrombocytosis. §Wilcoxon (Breslow) test: p = 0.59

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