Sarah Bos

28 CHAPTER 2 Plasma levels of proteins involved in coagulation Plasma levels of both FII and FVII were significantly lower in all etiologies than the levels in controls, with the lowest levels in ALD, 59% [35-85] and 56% [35-85] for FII and FVII, respectively. In contrast, plasma levels of FVIII were significantly higher in all the etiologies with the highest levels in cholestatic disease (146% [115-174]). Plasma levels of the anticoagulant proteins AT and PC were significantly lower in all the etiologies of cirrhosis compared to controls, with no clear differences between etiologies (Table 3). PSC/PBC NASH ALD Viral Control FII (%) 74 (59-89) c 69 (60-89) c 59 (35-85) c 72 (57-84) c 93 (86-104) FVII (%) 64 (48-86) c 64 (42-88) a 56 (35-85) c 59 (49-84) c 94 (75-113) FVIII (%) 146 (115-174) c 131 (112-155) c 129 (95-151) c 111 (98-131) c 87 (70-103) AT (%) 85 (72-107) c 72 (58-91) c 71 (45-94) c 76 (53-90) c 108 (101-115) PC (%) 77 (52-89) c 79 (57-98) c 79 (40-98) c 84 (59-100) c 112 (101-128) Table 3. Plasma levels of proteins involved in coagulation Abbreviations: ALD, alcoholic liver disease, viral comprises hepatitis B and hepatitis C; AT, anti-thrombin; F–, factor–; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; PBC, primary biliary cholangitis; PC protein C; PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis. Note: Data are expressed as mean (standard deviation), or median (interquartile range). a p < 0.05 vs. control, b p < 0.01 vs. Control, c p < 0.001 vs. control. Fibrin structure The clot permeability was significantly lower in cirrhosis patients compared to controls in all etiologies (fig 3). Across etiologies the median values were comparable. Fibrinogen (Fg) levels were higher in patients compared to controls with no clear differences between etiologies. In all patients combined, fibrinogen levels were correlated with clot permeability (r=-0.35, p < 0.01).