To clarify the thrombopoietin (TPO) production in patients with end-stage liver cirrhosis and uremia under hemodialysis, plasma TPO levels in patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 15), uremia under hemodialysis (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 40) were measured by using a sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Relationship between megakaryocytopoiesis and plasma TPO levels was analysed by linear regression. The results showed that the mean plasma TPO concentration in the uremic patients was significantly lower than that in the healthy volunteers, whereas plasma TPO level in end-stage liver cirrhosis was not significantly different from that of normal controls; plasma TPO levels in liver cirrhosis and uremic patients did not significantly influence megakaryocytopoiesis. It is concluded that end-stage liver cirrhosis patients maintained normal plasma TPO levels, but the production of TPO was significantly reduced in renal failure patients. Thrombocytopenia in liver cirrhosis appears to be not related to plasma TPO levels.