Antifibrotic effect of heparin on liver fibrosis model in rats. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 2012;3:86-92. [PMID: 23494756 DOI: 10.4292/wjqpt.v3.i6.86]

Impact of coagulation function and anticoagulation therapy on liver fibrosis

Liver cirrhosis and its complications, including esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and ascites, can cause serious harm to human health. Therefore, treatment of liver fibrosis is key to the prevention and treatment of liver cirrhosis. In order to treat liver fibrosis to reduce human suffering, medical experts and scholars have performed many clinical and animal studies to find safe, efficient and reliable drugs to slow the progression of hepatic fibrosis and even reverse the liver function. This review introduces the definition of liver fibrosis in China and other countries, discusses the effect of coagulation on the process of liver fibrosis and various anticoagulation therapies for liver fibrosis, and summarizes the advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of different anticoagulants in the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.