Peripheral cytopenia and its contituent ratio in cirrhotic portal hypertension

Objective To investigate the causes of peripheral cytopenia in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis and portal hypertensive splenomegaly. Methods The clinical data of 183 patients with hepatitic cirrhosis and portal hypertensive splenomegaly complicated by peripheral cytopenia who were operated in our hospital in the past 17 years were retrospectively studied. Results All these patients underwent splenectomy. Before operation, all these patients had one or more types of peripheral cytopenia (cumulative cytopenia: 390 patient-times). After splenectomy, blood counts in 79.2% returned to normal; in 15.9% increased but failed to reach normal levels; and in 4.9% became lower than before operation. 5 patients died soon after operation. Conclusion Hypersplenism is the main cause for the peripheral cytopenia most cirrhotic portal hypertension patients. Splenectormy is an effective method to treat hypersplenism. Key words: Hypertension, portal; Cytopenia; Hypersplenism