HAEMATOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN DECOMPENSATED CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) is frequently associated with hematological abnormalities such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulation dysfunction, all of which significantly impact disease progression and clinical outcomes. Anemia in DCLD may result from chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, nutritional deficiencies, or hypersplenism. Thrombocytopenia is often due to portal hypertension and reduced thrombopoietin production, while coagulation disorders arise from impaired hepatic synthesis of clotting factors. This prospective observational study was conducted between 2023 and 2024 at the Department of General Medicine, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute. Fifty patients with DCLD were enrolled based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Investigations included complete blood count, peripheral smear, serum iron profile, folate levels, liver function tests, and coagulation studies. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Anemia was present in 96% of patients, with normocytic anemia being the most common (58.3%), followed by microcytic (29.2%) and macrocytic anemia (12.5%). Thrombocytopenia was observed in 70%, and 17.1% had platelet counts <50,000/µL. Prolonged prothrombin time and elevated international normalized ratio were observed in 66% and 76% of patients, respectively. Gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly associated with both thrombocytopenia (p = 0.045) and coagulation abnormalities (p = 0.011 for PT, p = 0.01 for INR). These findings underscore the high prevalence of hematological complications in DCLD. Early detection and management of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulation disorders are essential to reduce morbidity and improve patient care outcomes.