Serum thrombopoietin levels in patients with liver cirrhosis; relation to severity of the disease, spleen size and platelet count

ABSTRACT

Background: thrombopoietin [TPO] is an important regulator of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production. The role of TPO [which is mainly produced by the liver] in thrombocytopenic cirrhotic patients is still under investigation. The aim of this study was to measure the serum TPO levels in cirrhotic patients and examine its relationship with circulating platelet count, splenic size and clinical stage of liver cirrhosis