Liver has many hemostatic func­tions, which include synthesis of most coagulation factors and inhibitors, as well as fibrinolytic factors, except Von Willebrand factor. Also, macrophages in the liver clear many of the activated coagulation, fibrinolytic factors and hemostatic activation complexes. Therefore, it is not surprising that liver diseases result in a complex pattern of defects in hemostatic functions in the form of reduced synthesis of co­agulation factors and inhibitors, syn­thesis of abnormal clotting factors, abnormalities of fibrinolytic activity, disseminated intravascular coagula­tion and platelets defects.
This study was designed to evalu­ate the changes in international nor-
malised ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time {APTT), fibrino-gen, D-dimer levels, and protein-C antigen concentration in chronic liver diseases patients, and to find out if there is a possible link between these parameters and the pathogenesis of the disease or not. The current study included 55 hepatic patients and 25 age and sex matched healthy con­trols. The patients divided into two groups, chronic hepatitis C and Post HCV cirrhosis. Plasma fibrinogen lev­el was quantitatively measured by the clotting method of Clauss. Plasma protein C antigen concentration was measured by ELISA kit. D-dimer level was determined by latex agglutination method. INR and APTT were meas­ured by manual coagulation method.