Platelet abnormalities in hepatobiliary diseases.

Platelet abnormalities associated with hepatobiliary diseases include increased (thrombocytosis) and decreased (thrombocytopenia) numbers of platelets as well as abnormalities in function (thrombocytopathy or thrombasthenia). Hepatic diseases that are accompanied by platelet abnormalities include hepatitis, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and neoplastic disorders both benign and malignant. The objective of this work is to examine the platelet abnormalities that occur with a variety of hepatobiliary disorders. Thrombocytosis is seen as a reactive entity following splenectomy. Thrombocytopenia is associated with hypersplenism, dysproteinemias and liver disease related disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Qualitative platelet abnormalities are found in hepatic failure, liver diseases associated with high or low levels of lipid, and with medications given for a variety of hepatocellular diseases. Clinically common and significant platelet abnormalities associated with liver disease are thrombocytopenia secondary to portal hypertension and the thrombasthenias following metabolic changes and/or therapeutic interventions of liver disease.