TISSUE FACTOR IN CIRRHOTIC AND HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: The liver is the primary site of synthesis of nearly all coagulation factors, along with several proteins involved in fibrinolysis and anticoagulation, The acute and chronic inflammation in the liver is associated with a bleeding diathesis due to deficiency in the synthesis of coagulation factors as well as a pro-coagulant state due to the defects in the synthesis of anticoagulant factors by the liver. Objective: To assess the tissue factor in cirrhotic and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and their coagulation profile. Patients and methods: This was a case control study carried on Al-Mahala General Hospital, and conducted on 80 subjects. They were categorized into in to main two groups: Group A (60 patients) and Group B (20 control persons) from March 2019 till September 2019. Results: There was a statistical significant difference between tissue factor expression and other laboratory parameters among the studied group. There was a significant positive correlation between tissue factor and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, total bilirubin, α-fetoprotein (AFP), international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Also there was a significant negative correlation between tissue factor and hemoglobin, albumin and platelets. Conclusion: Tissue factor (TF) enhances the inflammatory process within the liver parenchyma as it induces release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This raises the possibility of a potential role for anti-inflammatory substances as a potential therapeutic option that can ameliorate liver damage in those patients.