Platelet counts and spleen size in cirrhotic patients after implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

Background/Aims: Thrombocytopenia and Splenomegaly are frequent complications of cirrhosis. Its pathogenesis is not well known, but it has been suggested that splenic congestion induced by portal hypertension may be a major contributory factor. Blood cells, especially platelets, are decomposed due to an induced splenic sequestration in an enlarged spleen. However, the available data regarding the effect of successful portal decompression e.g. by TIPS on peripheral platelet count and splenomegaly in cirrhotics are conflicting. Methods: We evaluated the data of 182 cirrhotic patients after TIPS who presented thems…