Background and Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
represents one of the most serious medical challenges that
face the Egyptian medical sector. Thrombocytopenia may
occur as a complication of HCV infection itself or due to
antiviral therapy. L.Carnitine is an important nutrient in the
body which involved in many physiological functions in the
body. This study aimed to detect association between serum
L.Carnitine and thrombocytopeniain Chronic Hepatitis C
Patients whether due to viral infection or due to antiviral
therapy.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 66
compensated chronic hepatitis C patients with thrombocytopenia patients beside 15 healthy individuals of both
sexes classified in 4 groups, group (A) included 18 patientswithout antiviral therapy, group (B) included 35 patients
under peg-interferon a , sofosbuvir and ribavirin therapy,
group (C) included 13 patients under peg-interferon a and
ribavirin therapy and group (D) included 15 healthy individuals
who served as control group.
Results: There was non significant correlation between
serum L.Carnitine level and thrombocytopenia in group (A)
(p-value: 0.562), group (B) ( p-value: 0.211) and group (C)
(p-value: 0.969).
Conclusion: There is no association between serum L.
Car-nitine level and thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C
patients regardless this was induced by IFN-based antiviral
therapy or not.