Assessing primary hemostasis in cirrhosis: not only platelet count
Abstract
Platelets play a central role in primary hemostasis in cirrhosis [1,2].In the past, thrombocytopenia and "platelet dysfunction" were considered major determinants of bleeding tendency in advanced chronic liver disease [2].This concept largely stemmed from studies using platelet-rich plasma and light transmission aggregometry, which reported markedly impaired agonist-induced platelet aggregation [1-4].However, this paradigm has gradually been reconsidered.Subsequent clinical studies have questioned the presumed link between thrombocytopenia and bleeding risk, even in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and platelet counts below 50 × 10 9 /L [5,6].Moreover, functional platelet testing is intrinsically constrained by
Fields of Study & Subjects
Liver Disease and Transplantation
Trauma
Hemostasis
Coagulopathy
Resuscitation
Platelet Disorders and Treatments
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 103400–103400
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN