Low platelet count: Predictor of death and graft loss after liver transplantation

Table 1 Comparison of patients according to platelet count on fifth postoperative day of liver transplantation, n (%)

Variables prior to LT	All patients (n = 480)	Platelets < 70 × 109/L - 5POD (n = 288)	Platelets ≥ 70 × 109/L - 5POD (n = 192)	P-value
Related to recipients
Age > 60 yr	97 (20.2)	65 (22.6)	32 (16.7)	0.071
Sex: Male	311 (64,8)	189 (65.6)	122 (63.5)	0.355
BMI (kg/m2)	25.7 (± 3.8)	25.7 (± 3.5)	25.4 (± 3.4)	0.410
Hepatitis C	141 (29.4)	85 (29.5)	56 (29.2)	> 0.99
Hepatitis B	20 (4.2)	12 (4.2)	8 (4.2)	> 0.99
MELD score (± SD)	16.3 (± 5.3)	16.8 (± 5.4)	15.7 (± 5.0)	0.033
CTP score
A	117 (24.5)	59 (20.6)	58 (30.4)	0.014
B	228 (47.8)	140 (49)	88 (46.1)
C	132 (27.7)	87 (30.4)	45 (23.6)
Life support1	3 (0.6)	3 (1)	0 (0.0)	0.215
HRS	45 (9.4)	27 (9.4)	18 (9.4)	0.560
Hemodialysis2	17 (3.5)	10 (3.5)	7 (3.6)	0.554
Related to donors
Age > 40 yr	223 (47.2)	139 (49.3)	84 (44.2)	0.161
CIT > 8 h	192 (40.6)	116 (41.1)	76 (39.8)	0.422
Variables during LT
Bleeding > 2500 mL	276 (57.5)	172 (59.7)	104 (54.2)	0.133
Transfusion of platelets	180 (37.5)	109 (37.8)	71 (36.9)	0.890
Transfusion of fresh frozen plasma	288 (60.0)	171 (59.4)	117 (60.9)	0.805

¹Patients needing vasoactive drugs or mechanical ventilation before liver transplantation.

²Patients needing renal replacement therapy before liver transplantation. 5POD: Fifth postoperative day; BMI: Body mass index; CIT: Cold ischemia time; CTP: Child-Turcotte-Pugh; HRS: Hepatorenal syndrome; LT: Liver transplantation; MELD: Model for End-stage Liver Disease.

Table 2 Univariate analyses of postoperative outcomes according to patients’ platelet count after liver transplantation, n (%)

Outcome	Platelet count < 70 × 109/L - 5POD (n = 288)	Platelet count ≥ 70 × 109/L - 5POD (n = 192)	HR (95%CI)	P-value
Mortality in 30 d	17 (5.9)	7 (3.6)	1.62 (0.68-3.83)	0.37
Mortality in 90 d	28 (9.7)	8 (4.2)	2.33 (1.09-5.00)	0.037
Mortality in 1 yr	50 (17.4)	14 (7.3)	2.38 (1.36-4.18)	0.002
Retransplantation within 30 d	10 (3.5)	0 (0.0)	-	0.007
Retransplantation within 90 d	12 (4.2)	0 (0.0)	-	0.002
Retransplantation within 1 yr	15 (5.2)	1 (0.5)	10 (1.33-76.92)	0.004
Delayed graft, function	28 (9.7)	15 (7.8)	1.24 (0.68-2.27)	0.58

5POD: Fifth postoperative day; HR: Hazard ratio.