[Hemostatic changes in the course of different chronic hepatopathies]

The following tests were performed in 15 cases of chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH), 12 of cirrhosis, and 8 of other forms of chronic disease: liver function, thromboelastogram, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), determination of factors I, II, V, X and XIII, euglobulin and FDP lysis, and platelet count, shape and agglutinability. At least one haemostasis alteration was observed in nearly every case, the most common being in the thromboelastogram, PTT, prothrombin, and platelet shape and agglutinability. Defects were most marked in cirrhosis and comparison with CAH was significant in the case of PT and factor V. Fibrinolysis was increased in 60% of the CAH group and rarely elsewhere. Haemorrhage was noted in 7 cases of cirrhosis and 1 of CAH. On each occasion, it was more dependent on the serious nature of the disease, rather than defective haemostasis.