Coagulation studies in patients with cirrhosis of liver: bleeders vs non-bleeders.

ABSTRACT

Haemostatic functions in 30 cases of cirrhosis liver (18 bleeders and 12 non-bleeders) irrespective of the type of cirrhosis were studied. All the cirrhotics were found to have normal bleeding and clotting time. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 10 cases (33.3 percent), reduced availability of PF3 in 8 cases (26.6 percent), multiple coagulation factor defects in 18 cases (60 percent), increased euglobulin lysis activity in 8 cases (26.6 percent) and low plasma fibrinogen in 12 cases (40 percent). The combination of these tests indicated consumption coagulopathy with secondary fibrinolysis as the major contributory factor in haemorrhagic diathesis in patients with cirrhosis of liver. These coagulation defects were found to be more severe in bleeders than non-bleeders.