Chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C and one of the common treatments for hepatitis C, known as interferon, both cause low platelets, or thrombocytopenia.
Low platelets caused by hepatitis C
People with hepatitis C need drug treatment
Doctors recommend that people with hepatitis C take drugs known
as interferon and ribavirin. These drugs can reduce or even eliminate the hepatitis
C virus.
A platelet count is needed
Before you can start treatment with interferon and ribavirin, your doctor
will do a blood test to count the platelets in your blood. In order to take interferon
for hepatitis C, you must have enough platelets.
Hepatitis C can cause low platelets
If you have hepatitis C, you may not have enough platelets in your
blood. Hepatitis C can cause low platelets.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about hepatitis C, interferon treatment, or low platelets.
Low platelets caused by interferon
Interferon and platelets
Interferon can help reduce or eliminate
the hepatitis C virus. However, interferon can also cause thrombocytopenia—a reduction
in the platelets in your blood.
Changing or interrupting interferon treatment
If the number of your platelets gets too low, then your doctor
may decide to change your interferon treatment. You may get a decreased amount of
interferon or you may have to stop interferon treatment in order to allow your platelet levels to recover.
Changing interferon treatment may be a problem
If your interferon for hepatitis C is reduced or stopped, then
you may not get the best possible results from the treatment.
Best outcome for hepatitis C treatment
The goal of treatment for hepatitis C is to reduce or eliminate
the virus for as long as possible. So, some people with hepatitis C must take interferon
for a long time. Ideally, thrombocytopenia needs to be avoided to allow for a full
course of drug treatment.
