[Comparative study of hemostatic changes in acute viral hepatitis and terminal cirrhosis].

Twenty patients with severe hepatic failure and fatal evolution, in whom hemostatic parameters were studied are presented. Eleven had fulminant acute viral hepatitis (FVH) and nine had liver cirrhosis. Hepatic parenchymal failure was followed by altered coagulation factors. In FVH major disturbances were detected in factors II, V, VII - X. In our cirrhotic patients factor alterations were moderated. In spite of these differences the percentage of bleeding patients was similar in both groups. Prothrombin time plus tromboplastine partial time (KPTT) are useful prognostic complements for these two entities.