Hypercoagulation and thrombophilia in liver disease

Patrick G. Northup, V. Sundaram, M. B. Fallon, K. R. Reddy, R. A. Balogun, A. J. Sanyal, Q. M. Anstee, M. R. Hoffman, Y. Ikura, S. H. Caldwell, Nathan Bass, Andres T. Blei, Don Gabriel, Pere Gines, Peter Grant, Kris Kowdley, Samuel Lee, Santiago Munoz, Ian Wanless, Abdullah Al-OsaimiCarl Berg, Thomas Bleck, David Bogdonoff, Andrew Martoff, Paul Mintz, Timothy Pruett

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

164 Scopus citations

Abstract

A complex balance exists between endogenous procoagulants and the anticoagulant system in liver disease patients. Hypercoagulable events occur in cirrhosis patients despite the well-known bleeding diathesis of liver disease. These events may be clinically evident, such as in portal vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, but these conditions may also be a silent contributor to certain disease states, such as portopulmonary hypertension or parenchymal extinction with liver atrophy as well as thrombosis of extracorporeal circuits in dialysis or liver assist devices. Moreover, liver disease-related hypercoagulability may contribute to vascular disease in the increasingly common condition of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite the incidence of these problems, there are few widely accessible and practical laboratory tests to evaluate the risk of a hypercoagulable event in cirrhosis patients. Furthermore, there is little research on the use of commonly accepted anticoagulants in patients with liver disease. This article is a result of an international symposium on coagulation disorders in liver disease and addresses several areas of specific interest in hypercoagulation in liver disease. Critical areas lacking clinical information are highlighted and future areas of research interest are defined with an aim to foster clinical research in this field.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2-9
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2008

Keywords

  • Blood coagulation disorders
  • Blood coagulation tests
  • Cirrhosis
  • Coagulation factors
  • Portal vein thrombosis
  • Venous thrombosis

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