FREQUENCY OF ACQUIRED DYSFIBRINOGENEMIA IN PATIENTS OF CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of acquired dysfibrinogenemia in patients of chronic liver disease.

Study Design: It was a descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Haematology department, Army Medical College, National University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the department of Medicine, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi in one year (November 2012- October 2013).

Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients of chronic liver disease were included and those with previous history of coagulation disorders were excluded. It was a simple random sampling. A specifically designed proforma was used for the data collection. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated from quantitative variables like fibrinogen levels and age. Frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables like thrombin time, its correction with toluidine blue and gender. To find an association between all categorical variables Chi-square test was used. p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Frequency of acquired dysfibrinogenemia in patients was found to be 40/100 (40%). Child Pugh Score A, B and C was used for grading the severity of liver disease. The study showed that the frequency of acquired dysfibrinogenemia tends to increase significantly [3(7.5%), 8(20%), 29(72.5%)] with the progress in severity of liver disease graded by Child Pugh Score (p = 0.014).

Conclusion: The study shows that the frequency of acquired dysfibrinogenemia increases significantly with the progression of severity of liver disease. Thus, it can serve as a helpful tool in early management and follow up of patients of chronic liver disease.

Key Words: Thrombin time, Fibrinogen, Blood coagulation disorders, Thrombosis.