Liver Cirrhosis Manifested by Dysfibrinogenemia

Abstract

We report a case in which liver cirrhosis was manifested by dysfibrinogenemia before the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was made. A patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy although liver function tests, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), bleeding time, fibrin (ogen) degradation products (FDP), and platelet counts were normal. However, thrombin time (TT) was prolonged. The gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding) was successfully treated with cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Key Words: Dysfibrinogenemia—Liver disease—Thrombin time.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Frances JL , Armstrong DJ Acquired dysfibrinogenemia in liver disease. J Clin Pathol 1982;35:667.

Joist JH Hemostatic abnormalities in liver disease. In: Colman RW , Hirsh J , Marder VJ , Salzman EW , eds. Hemostasis and Thrombosis, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1987:861.

Lurie B. , Creter D. Coagulation studies for severe liver disease detection in a gastroenterology department. Digestion 1981;21:244.

Palascak JE , Martinez JE Dysfibrinogenemia associated with liver disease. J Clin Invest 1977 ;60:89.

. Francis JL , Armstrong DJ Fibrinogen-bound sialic acid levels in the dysfibrinogenemia of liver disease. Haemostasis 1982;11:215.

Green G. , Thomson JM , Dymock IW , Poller L. Abnormal fibrin polymerization in liver disease. Br J Haematol 1976; 34:427.

Menitove JE Preparation and clinical use of plasma and plasma fractions. In: Williams WJ , Beutler E , Erslev AJ , Lichtman MA , eds. Hematology, 4th ed, New York: Mc-Graw-Hill, 1990:1659.