Haemostatic alterations in liver diseases

Abstract

Background - The liver is the major site of synthesis for all the clotting factors. The concentrations of these factors, especially factor V has been demonstrated to fall proportionately to the increasing severity of the disease. Liver disease also leads to vitamin K deficiency, mainly by the decreased absorption from the gut due to the reduced bile salts secretion from the liver. The physiology of the hemostatic system is closely linked to liver function because the liver parenchymal cells produce most of the factors of clotting and fibrinolytic systems and because the liver regulates the activation or inhibition of both systems. Objectives - The present study is designed to assess the values of various haemostatic parameters in liver disease. Results and Conclusions - On comparing the mean prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, and mean fibrinogen level in cases of liver disease with that in the controls, it was found to be significantly (p 0.001) increased in liver disease.