Observational Study
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2014; 20(33): 11871-11877
Published online Sep 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i33.11871
Low immediate postoperative platelet count is associated with hepatic insufficiency after hepatectomy
Hai-Qing Wang, Jian Yang, Jia-Yin Yang, Wen-Tao Wang, Lu-Nan Yan
Hai-Qing Wang, Jian Yang, Jia-Yin Yang, Wen-Tao Wang, Lu-Nan Yan, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work and designed the research; Yang J, Yang JY and Wang WT analyzed and interpreted the data; Wang HQ and Yan LN drafted the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Grants from the National Science and Technology Major Project of China, No.2012ZX10002-016 and No.2012ZX10002-017
Correspondence to: Lu-Nan Yan, MD, PhD, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. yanlunan_688@163.com
Telephone: +86-28-85422867 Fax: +86-28-85422867
Received: January 26, 2014
Revised: March 27, 2014
Accepted: April 30, 2014
Published online: September 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Recent animal experiments suggested that platelets not only have a role in hemostasis and thrombogenesis, but can also improve liver function by mediating liver regeneration. Our study found that patients with a low immediate postoperative platelet count < 100 × 109/L had more grade III-V complications, and higher rates of postoperative liver failure, hepatic insufficiency and mortality. In addition, these patients had worse liver function after liver resection, with higher alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin and lower albumin levels. This indicated that platelets could mediate liver regeneration in cirrhotic liver.