Hypocoagulability - Liver Disease

How is blood clotting affected by liver disease?

• Liver produces clotting factors

• Severe liver disease → impaired synthesis of clotting factors

What is the pathogenesis of Liver disease? What problems arise in terms of blood clotting?

• Decreased clotting factors synthesis → bleeding tendency

• Vitamin K → decreased clotting factor activity; liver can’t function to use it → bleeding tendency

What are the structural changes of liver disease?

• Reduced circulating levels of clotting factors

• Impaired clot formation

• Portal hypertension → Splenomegaly → sequester platelets and contribute to thrombocytopenia → bleeding tendency

What is the clinical significance of liver disease? What issues arise from it?

• Bleeding issues

  • Easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from minor injuries

• Elevated PT & PTT

What is the treatment for Liver Disease?

Vitamin K Supplementation → activates clotting factors II, VII, IX, X → restore activity of clotting factors