[Blood coagulation factor levels in candidates for liver transplantation: correlation with disease severity].
OBJECTIVE
To correlate blood coagulation factor levels with disease severity in cirrhotic patients evaluated as candidates for liver transplantation.


METHODS
We included 87 patients (75.9% men) with a mean age of 54+/-9.4 years. Etiology and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class were as follows: alcohol-related (36.8%), hepatitis C virus infection (35.6%), hepatitis B virus infection (11.5%) and other (16.1%); class A (13.8%), class B (40.2%) and class C (46%), respectively. The mean value of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 14.5+/-5.9. Levels of factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX and X were compared between each CTP grade and with the MELD score.


RESULTS
Except for factor VIII, all the clotting factors were reduced in our series (in particular factors II, V and VII) and deficiencies in these factors were closely related to CTP grade with statistical significance for stage C (p <0.05). We also found a marked inverse correlation between the MELD score and factors II, V, VII, IX and X values (p <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A correlation was found between reduced levels of factors II, V, VII, IX and X in liver cirrhosis and the severity of liver disease.
Giráldez Gallego
Alvaro
A
Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sección de Hepatología, Sevilla, España. giraldezg@hotmail.com
Sousa
José Manuel
JM
Pascasio
Juan Manuel
JM
Prats
Concepción
C
Cayuela
Aurelio
A
Garrido
Antonio
A
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D020147:Coagulation Protein Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors