Fibrinogen level among children with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The liver has a major role in the production of coagulation factors, and cirrhotic patients have a series of coagulopathy disorders. The present study aimed to measure plasma fibrinogen levels in children with hepatic cirrhosis. Method Patients younger than 18 years old after diagnosis of liver cirrhosis by biopsy were enrolled in the study. Laboratory data including hemoglobin, PT, PTT, INR, and liver function tests were recorded. Fibrinogen levels were measured using the Clauss method. PELD score for children less than 12 years and MELD Na for children over 12 years were used to measure the severity of the liver disease. Results Fifty children with cirrhosis were studied. The mean fibrinogen level in the “PELD < 15” group was significantly higher than the other group (P < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between bleeding and fibrinogen levels. There was no significant relationship between PELD and bleeding in subjects (P = 0.87). The results of the study showed neither of these two factors (fibrinogen level and PELD) can play a predictive role in causing hemorrhage in patients. Conclusion Our study has shown that fibrinogen level is significantly associated with severity of liver cirrhosis and decreases with more severe disease (PELD levels), but platelet and fibrinogen cannot predict the severity of bleeding in these patients.