Several potential mechanisms can contribute to the thrombocytopenia in chronic HCV infection, including accelerated platelet clearance due to immune complex disease, cross-reactivity of anti-platelet glycoprotein antibodies and viral or bacterial antibodies, defective platelet production, and splenic sequestration of platelets secondary to portal hypertension and decreased production of thrombopoietin. This evidence concerns the gene ART4 and Thrombocytopenia.