Abstract

Background and study aims: Liver fibrosis score is associated with peripheral platelet count in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Lamivudine therapy decreases the liver fibrosis score in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between increasing peripheral platelet count and decreasing liver fibrosis scores in patients with CHB on lamivudine therapy.
Patients and methods: One hundred and fifty-three patients with CHB who received at least 2-years of lamivudine therapy in a tertiary care center were enrolled in the study. Patients with splenomegaly and/or bi- or pancytopenia were excluded. Liver biopsy had been performed prior to and at the end of the second year of the lamivudine therapy. Lamivudine-induced alterations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase levels, fibrosis score, and peripheral platelet count were compared with Wilcoxon test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was regarded as significant.
Results: Of 153 patients, 99 (64.7%) were male and mean age (± SD) was 39.05 ± 11.8 years. HBeAg was found to be positive in 71 (46.4%) patients. Lamivudine decreased aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase levels, fibrosis score, and increased peripheral platelet count. Increased peripheral platelet count showed a significant correlation with decreased alanine aminotransferase levels (p<0.05). Increased peripheral platelet count showed no correlation with decreased aspartate aminotransferase levels or fibrosis score (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Increased peripheral platelet count during the lamivudine therapy is not related decreased liver fibrosis score in patients with CHB.

Keywords: Lamivudine; Hepatitis B; Fibrosis; Platelet count