Spectrum of Liver Diseases and Coagulation Profile- A Correlative Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background:

The liver plays a vital role in haemostasis through synthesis of coagulation factors, anticoagulant proteins, and thrombopoietin. Liver diseases therefore frequently result in abnormalities of coagulation, predisposing patients to both bleeding and thrombotic complications. Evaluation of coagulation parameters can help assess disease severity and guide clinical management.

Aim:

To evaluate the spectrum of liver diseases and correlate them with coagulation profile abnormalities in patients attending a tertiary care hospital.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry at Integral Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (IIMSR), Lucknow, over 18 months (March 2024–September 2025). A total of 160 clinically diagnosed liver disease patients aged 20–60 years were included and categorized into cirrhosis (n=80), hepatitis (n=44), and other liver diseases (n=36). Blood samples were analyzed for PT, APTT, platelet count, bleeding time (BT), clotting time (CT), and D-dimer along with biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed using SPSS and p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

Cirrhosis was the most common liver disease (50%). Significant prolongation of PT and APTT, thrombocytopenia, and markedly elevated D-dimer levels were observed in cirrhosis compared with hepatitis and other liver diseases (p<0.0001). Abnormal PT (80%), aPTT (81.25%), and platelet count (93.75%) were predominantly seen in cirrhotic patients. Hepatitis showed moderate coagulation abnormalities, whereas other liver diseases demonstrated minimal changes. Alcoholic cirrhosis showed more severe coagulation impairment than non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Viral hepatitis constituted the majority of hepatitis cases, with hepatitis B being the most common subtype.

Conclusion:

Coagulation abnormalities correlate strongly with the severity of liver disease and are most pronounced in cirrhosis. Routine assessment of PT, APTT, platelet count, and D-dimer provides a simple and useful tool for evaluating disease severity, predicting complications, and guiding safe clinical management in patients with liver disease.