HomeAnswersFamily PhysiciancirrhosisI have liver cirrhosis, low platelets, and hemoglobin. Why?

Does a cirrhosis patient require medicines to increase platelet count and Hb?

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Published At July 31, 2018
Reviewed AtDecember 27, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a liver cirrhosis patient. My platelet count is 72*10^3 per microliter of blood and hemoglobin is 10. Everything else including protein and albumin are normal. The doctor is giving Ricovir 300, Pantosec 40, Udliv 150, Vitamin A to Z daily and Lasilactone 50 mg on alternate days. But, he is not giving any medicine to increase platelet count and for reduced hemoglobin. Is it alright or is that required?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

In liver cirrhosis, chronic fibrosis occurs and such fibrotic tissue obstructs portal blood flow and so, because of portal hypertension splenomegaly can occur. An enlarged spleen traps platelet count and so your platelet count is low.

With an improvement of cirrhosis by medication and avoidance of alcohol and through a healthy lifestyle, your platelet count can increase with time. But if cirrhosis worsens, then the condition might reverse.

You have been prescribed antiviral medication as well. So, hepatitis B or C might be associated. In hepatitis, bone marrow can be suppressed and there can be pancytopenia in which hemoglobin, WBC count, and platelet all three get reduced. So, check your WBC count as well.

For low platelet, you need only monitoring and a healthy lifestyle. For low hemoglobin, check your serum ferritin and TIBC (total iron-binding capacity) level and peripheral smear examination to give more comment on that.

If any unusual bleeding starts, then platelet needs to be transfused.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Pathology

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