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Coagulopathy of acute liver failure.
Clin Liver Dis. 2009 Feb;13(1):95-107
Authors: Munoz SJ, Stravitz RT, Gabriel DA
Coagulopathy is an essential component of the acute liver failure (ALF) syndrome and reflects the central role of liver function in hemostasis. ALF is a syndrome characterized by the development of hepatic encephalopathy and coagulopathy within 24 weeks of the onset of acute liver disease. Coagulopathy in this setting is a useful prognostic tool in ALF and a dynamic indicator of the hepatic function. If severe, it can be associated with bleeding and is commonly a major obstacle to the performance of invasive procedures in patients with ALF. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, evaluation, and management of coagulopathy in ALF.
PMID: 19150314 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]