Platelet associated immunoglobulins in primary biliary cirrhosis: A cause of thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients is usually attributed to splenic pooling whereas in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura it is related to platelet bound immunoglobulin (PA-IgG). Since primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disorder we have undertaken a prospective study to assess the frequency and possible relationship of PA-IgG to thrombocytopenia in this condition. Sixty two primary biliary cirrhosis patients (28 precirrhotic; 34 cirrhotic) were studied. Twenty five patients (40%) had raised PA-IgG of whom 18 had cirrhosis. There was a significant inverse correlation between platelet count and PA-IgG (p<0-001) and between platelet count and spleen size (p<0·001). Thrombocytopenia (platelets