Abstract
Background: Patients with liver cirrhosis are generally considered "auto-anticoagulated" because of coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia. However, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis. Aim of the work: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III deficiency as risk factors for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in cirrhotic patients. Methods: The levels of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III in 14 cirrhotic patients with PVT, 25 cirrhotic patients without PVT, and 25 healthy controls were determined and statistically analyzed. Results and conclusions: There is statistically non significant difference between the levels of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III in the cirrhotic patients with PVT and those without suggesting that PVT occurs mainly due to local stasis in the portal vein. However, Levels of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III were significantly lower in the cirrhotic patients when compared to the healthy controls mostly due to decreased hepatic synthesis of these factors.