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Colegio de Medicina Interna de México.

2010, Number 6

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Med Int Mex 2010; 26 (6)

Thrombocytopenia: a risk factor for encephalopathy in patients with liver failure

Paniagua PA, Flores AG

Language: Spanish
References: 19
Page: 561-567
PDF size: 384.01 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Background: Liver failure is a chronic health problem worldwide. Hepatic encephalopathy is a complication that it can to produce coma and death; it has a prevalence of 30-80%. The known risk factors are: electrolyte disorders, infections, gastrointestinal bleeding, diet and drugs. In this study, we propose the thrombocytopenia commonly observed in these patients because portal hypertension, hypersplenism and low trombopoietin, is a risk factor for encephalopaty development.
Objective: To evaluate if thrombocytopenia is a risk factor for developing hepatic encephalopathy in patients with chronic liver failure.
Methods: Case-control study that included two groups (a group of patients with hepatic encephalopathy and one without encephalopathy) in hospitals in Mexico City in March 2008 to January 2010. Variables were age, gender, time of diagnosis, comorbidities, leukocytes, hemoglobin, platelets, total bilirrubin, albumin, AST, potassium.
In the statistical analysis to compare these variables X2, t student, odds ratios and confidence intervals.
Results: The sample included 60 patients, 30 with hepatic encephalopathy and 30 without encephalopathy. The groups were homogeneous in the variables age, gender, time of diagnosis, number of previous episodes of encephalopathy, leukocytes, hemoglobin, and albumin (p‹0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of platelets (p ‹0.05). Thrombocytopenia (platelets ‹150 000) and association of risk with an odds ratio 4.03, 95% CI 1.3 to 11.8.
Conclusion: thrombocytopenia (‹150 000) is a risk factor for developing encephalopathy in patients with chronic liver failure (OR 4.03).


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