Vol. 8, Issue 4, Part A (2025)

Background: Liver diseases pose a major public health problem both globally and locally. Patients with hepatic dysfunction often have coagulation abnormalities, which are an important component of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and patterns of blood coagulation abnormalities in patients with different liver diseases in the Al Nasiriya part of Iraq.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients with documented liver diseases attending a Al Hussain teaching hospital in Nasiriya from March 2023 to February 2024. Each of the patients was evaluated using clinical assessment and laboratory investigations including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalized ratio (INR), platelet count and fibrinogen levels. The severity of disease was stratified using Child-Pugh classification.
Results: Out of the 150 patients (mean age 52.3±11.8 years; 65% male), most were found to have coagulation abnormalities (87.3%). Most frequent abnormality was increased PT (78.7%) closely followed by increased INR (71.3%) and thrombocytopenia (64.0%). There was a close association found between the severity of disease and the coagulation profile parameters. The most common etiology of liver disease was the hepatitis C virus (52%), followed by hepatitis B virus (28%) and alcoholic liver disease (20%).
Conclusion: Coagulation abnormalities are very frequent in patients with liver diseases. There is a close correlation between liver disease severity and coagulation abnormalities. Therefore, regular monitoring of coagulation profile parameters is important in risk stratification and management of complications. The findings of this study strongly suggest the value of extensive coagulation screening in patients with liver disease in order to institute appropriate therapeutic measures and prevention of bleeding complications.