THPO and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: In hepatitis C virus (HCV)-predominant populations, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and post-antiviral shifts in thrombopoietin can alter platelet levels irrespective of variceal severity, whereas hepatitis B virus (HBV)- or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-predominant cohorts may include younger patients with relatively preserved thrombopoiesis and less hypersplenism early on, attenuating associations.