Bleeding problems in patients with liver disease

PREVIEW

Liver disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world. Considering that an estimated 3 to 5 million people in the United States are infected with hepatitis C virus, the number of patients with cirrhosis, hepatoma, and liver failure can be expected to increase. The liver has a pivotal role in the coagulation process, so it is not surprising that clotting abnormalities are a prominent feature of acute and chronic liver disease. The authors review this important role and suggest an approach to dealing with coagulation abnormalities that may result from liver disease.