Hypocoagulability in Children With Decompensated Chronic Liver Disease and Sepsis: Assessment by Thromboelastography.

Objective: To evaluate the coagulation status of children with decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) and infection and factors affecting it using thromboelastography (TEG).

Methods: Coagulation status of children admitted with DCLD and infection was assessed by international normalized ratio (INR), platelet count, and TEG [reaction time (R), kinetic time (K), α-angle (AA), maximum amplitude (MA), coagulation index (CI), and lysis index (LY30)] at admission and at 7-14 days after treatment. CI < -3 represents hypocoagulable state. Clinical profile including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), infection severity, bleeding, treatment response, and outcome were noted.

Results: Thirty children (21 boys, median (IQR) age 78 [15.7-180] months) were studied prospectively. At admission, 29 (96.7%) had prolonged INR, 24 (80%) had thrombocytopenia, and 17 (56.6%) were hypocoagulable by TEG. Nine of 30 (30%) had normal TEG but deranged INR and platelets. Nineteen (63.3%) cases had SIRS, 11 (36.6%) had severe sepsis, and 8 (26.6%) had bleeding. Hypocoagulable state was common in severe sepsis than sepsis/infection (81.1% versus 42.1%; P = 0.05) and persistent (n = 4) versus recovered SIRS (n = 15, 100% versus 33%; P = 0.03). Bleeders had prolonged R-time (7.8 versus 5.4 min; P = 0.03), smaller MA (30.2 versus 47 mm; P = 0.05), and α-angle (40.4 versus 62.9; P = 0.03) but similar INR and platelets than nonbleeders. Six patients (20%) had poor in-hospital outcomes; R-time ≥8.5 min predicted mortality with high sensitivity (83%) and specificity (100%).

Conclusions: Fifth-seven percent of children with DCLD and infection were hypocoagulable by TEG. Severe sepsis and persistent SIRS worsened the coagulation status. TEG identifies bleeders better than INR and platelet count. R-time ≥8.5 min predicts a poor hospital outcome.