Influence of TT virus infection on the thrombocytopenia of patients with chronic liver disease

TT virus (TTV) can replicate not only in the liver but also in hematopoietic cells. To investigate the possible influence of TTV infection on the hematological parameters of patients with chronic liver disease, serum samples from 581 patients with chronic, viral or non-viral liver disease were tested for TTV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was performed by two distinct methods using N22 primer pairs (N22 PCR), which detect primarily the four major TTV genotypes (1–4), and using genotype 1-specific primers (Genotype 1-PCR). Thirteen hematological parameters measured in routine laboratory tests were compared among the patients who were positive or negative for TTV infection. The platelet count was significantly lower in the N22 PCR-positive group than in the N22 PCR-negative group among the 189 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) and among the 40 patients with chronic hepatitis without serological markers of ongoing hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection (CH-NBNC) ( P