ABSTRACT
Schistosomiasis is a major health problem in various parts of the world and Egypt. The disease is well known for the bleeding tendency that may result from diminished synthesis of coagulation factors, fibrinolytic system activation and consumption coagulopathy. This work attempted to evaluate the role of the ascitic fluid milieu in the hypercoagulability that may be observed in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. Three parameters were assayed; prothrombin fragment 1+2[PF 1 + 2], thrombin-antithrombin complex [TAT] and fibrin monomers [FM]. These parameters were assayed both in the plasma and ascitic fluid simultaneously. The study was carried out on 18 schistosomal patients with hepatic fibrosis and tense ascites. The values of PF 1+2, TAT were significantly correlated both in plasma and ascitic fluid, while FM although was higher than the expected values yet was not significantly associated to either of the two other parameters. We concluded from this study that the ascitic fluid can be an important source of pro-coagulant material to the plasma in ascitic patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis