EFFECT OF THROMBOPOIETIN RECEPTOR AGONISTS (ROMIPLOSTIM) ON HEPATIC THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN CIRRHOTIC MALE ALBINO RATS

Background: Thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) can negatively affect the patient’s carein advanced liver disease by interfering with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Decrease levels of thrombopoietin hormone in CLD lead to decrease rate of platelet production and maturation. Because of the short half-life of platelets repetitive platelet transfusions are not a practical solution to thrombocytopenia. Objective: To assess the role of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (Romiplostim) in treatment of thrombocytopenia in CLD. Material and Methods: One hundred twenty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into four groups as follows: Group (N) Normal control (20 rats) Group (C) cirrhotic control group (40 rats) Group (NR) Normal treated with Romiplostim (20 rats). Group (CR) cirrhotic treated with Romiplostim (40 rats).After sex weeks the rats of groups C and CR were divided randomly into two equal groups (CA and CB, CRA and CRB) and the rats of groups CA and CRA were fasted for 8 hours but had free access to water, and then anesthetized, and blood sample was collected for measurement of platelet count, total protein, albumin, and liver functions, and specimens from liver were fixed for histopathological examination for these groups. After eight weeks, the same producers were used for the rats of groups N, NR, CB and CRB. The separated serum was used for the determination of the levels of total protein, albumin, liver functions, and all liver sections were examined using light microscope. Results: There were significant increase of platelet count in rat groups receiving Romiplostim (NR, CRA and CRB) when compared to other groups (N, CA and CB) and there were significant increase in platelet count in rats received Romiplostim by time pass (CRB if compared by CRA). On the other hand, Romiplostim has insignificant effect on liver function tests in all rat groups, also showed no effect on histopathological examinations of liver sections in different rat groups (NR, CRA and CRB). Conclusions: Romiplostim administration increase platelet count in cirrhotic albino rats.