Severe thrombocytopenia before liver transplantation is associated with delayed recovery of thrombocytopenia regardless of donor type

Figure 1 Study design.

Figure 2 Change in platelet counts during the 5 years after OLT (mean ± SE). A: In both LDLT and CDLT, the platelet counts within 1 mo after OLT increased significantly (^bP < 0.001). The increase of platelet counts within first 1 mo after OLT was significantly larger than the later periods (P < 0.001). Platelet counts in LDLT and CDLT did not differ significantly during the 5 years after OLT (P = 0.437, repeated-measures ANOVA); B: In patients with severe preoperative thrombocytopenia (< 50 000/μL), donor type also did not affect the recovery of platelet count after the OLT (P = 0.541).

Figure 3 A: Change in platelet counts during the 5 years after OLT grouped according to pre-OLT platelet count. Patients with severe pretransplant thrombocytopenia (groups 1 and 2) showed a slower recovery of thrombocytopenia compared with those with mild to moderate thrombocytopenia (groups 3 and 4) until 4 years after the OLT (^aP = 0.005, repeated-measures ANOVA); B: Change in platelet counts after the OLT in seven patients with portal vein thrombosis or stenosis. The increase of initial platelet count was similar to that observed in the other patients, but the count decreased gradually in proportion to the disturbance of portal flow; C: Change in spleen volumes during the first 3 years after the OLT (mean with standard error). In both LDLT and CDLT, the spleen volumes within 6 mo after OLT decreased significantly (^bP < 0.001). The decrease of spleen volumes within first 6 mo after OLT was significantly larger than the later periods (P≤ 0.02). The reduction in spleen volume after OLT did not differ significantly between LDLT and CDLT patients until 2 years after the OLT (P = 0.850, repeated-measures ANOVA); D: Change in spleen volumes for the first 3 years after the OLT grouped according to the pre-OLT platelet count. Patients with severe pretransplant thrombocytopenia (groups 1 and 2) showed a slower reduction of spleen volume compared with those with mild to moderate thrombocytopenia (groups 3 and 4) until 2 years after the OLT (^cP = 0.006, repeated-measures ANOVA).