Prevalence and Characteristics of Hepatic Hemangioma Associated with Coagulopathy and Its Predictive Risk Factors

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the relationships between hepatic hemangiomas and coagulopathy and the risk factors for hemangiomas is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hepatic hemangiomas associated with coagulopathy, elucidate the causes of coagulopathy, and identify the predictive factors for hemangioma-related complications. Methods: In 281 consecutive patients with hepatic hemangiomas, we performed ultrasonography and conducted serum laboratory tests for liver function and six coagulation factors, i.e., platelets, as well as five coagulation fibrinolytic markers (prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), d-dimer, and fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP)) as indicators of coagulation disorder. Results: Among 281 patients, 56 (19.9%) had abnormal coagulation factors. Abnormal values of d-dimer were most frequently found among the six coagulation factors. The number of abnormal coagulation factors was significantly correlated with tumor size, M2BPGi, and HDL cholesterol, among which tumor size was the most significant independent predictor of the number of abnormal coagulation factors. Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatic hemangiomas associated with coagulopathy was relatively high and became more frequent with increases in tumor size. Predictive factors of hemangioma-related complications were found to be a tumor size of >5 cm in diameter and coagulopathy, especially the elevation of d-dimer.