Thrombocytopenia and liver disease: pathophysiology and periprocedural management

The Role of Viscoelastic Testing in Assessing Hemostasis: A Challenge to Standard Laboratory Assays?

Viscoelastic testing is increasingly being used in clinical and research settings to assess hemostasis. Indeed, there are potential situations in which viscoelastic testing is reportedly superior to standard routine laboratory testing for hemostasis. We report the current testing platforms and terminology, as well as providing a concise narrative review of the published evidence to guide its use in various clinical settings. Notably, there is increasing evidence of the potential utility of viscoelastic testing for assessment of direct oral anticoagulants, and bleeding associated with chronic liver disease, orthotopic liver transplantation, cardiac surgery, trauma, obstetrics and pediatrics.

Refractory Thrombocytopenia in a 29-Year-Old Pregnant Woman With Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare autoimmune liver disease that mostly affects women in their reproductive years, leading to impaired fertility. Nonetheless, the majority of women with well-controlled AIH have a favorable prognosis for pregnancy. This case report describes a 29-year-old pregnant woman with cirrhosis secondary to AIH who presented with severe thrombocytopenia. Her labs showed a decline in her platelet counts from 28 × 109/L before pregnancy to 20 × 109/L during pregnancy. Her abdominal ultrasound showed liver cirrhosis secondary to AIH and splenomegaly. Throughout pregnancy, various scans were performed to monitor the fetal well-being, which showed normal results. She was on a medication regimen that included nadolol of 80 mg/kg/day, prednisolone of 5 mg/kg/day, and azathioprine of 50 mg/kg/day. Due to a breech presentation, the patient was scheduled for a cesarean section. She received two courses of dexamethasone at 20 mg/day for four days within two weeks of delivery. On the day of her scheduled C-section, tranexamic acid of 1 g TID for two days was administered, and she received platelet transfusions of 12 units both before and after the procedure, with an additional 6 units administered during the procedure. Despite proper management, her platelet count remained consistently low. However, she successfully delivered a healthy baby, and the overall condition of the patient was stable.