Improvement of Some Blood Coagulation Factors in Cirrhotic Patients Treated with Low Doses of Heparin

Abstract

Effects of s.c. Ca-heparin and vitamin K administration were studied in 30 cirrhotic patients showing low values of prothrombin time, antithrombin III, fibrinogen, platelet count, plasminogen, .alpha.2 antiplasmin, raised levels of fibrin(ogen) degradation products and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. A group of 10 patients was first treated with K vitamin for 15 days; after vitamin K therapy interruption, a treatment with 5000 IU (8000 IU in 1 patient) every 12 h of s.c. Ca-heparin was started. In another group of 20 patients, a treatment with 5000 IU (8000 IU in 2 patients) every 12 h of s.c. Ca-heparin was started immediately. The heparin administration in both groups had been performed for at least 2 wk. No significant changes of blood coagulation picture were observed after vitamin K administration, while Ca-heparin treatment showed an increase in prothrombin time, fibrinogen, platelet count, plasminogen, .alpha.2 antiplasmin, a decrease in fibrin(ogen) degradation products and a shortened activated partial thromboplastin time. There was no significant change in antithrombin III values.