[Cirrhosis and coagulation : implications for clinical practice].

Coagulation disorders related to abnormalities in hepatic synthesis are well known as prognostic factors in hepatic cirrhosis. The risk of bleeding, mainly linked to portal hypertension, must be weighed against the risk of thrombosis, the most frequent manifestation of which is portal venous thrombosis. Conventional laboratory tests are not a reliable reflection of this delicate balance. The use of prophylactic anticoagulation in hospitalized patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis or therapeutic anticoagulation in venous thrombosis is recommended in most cases, in the absence of contraindications.