Coagulation disorders and liver disease.

A definite association exists between hepatic disease and abnormalities of the coagulation system. These abnormalities can be detected by both routine and specialized coagulation tests. Extrahepatic causes of coagulation defects must first be ruled out by anamnesis, physical findings, and clinical laboratory tests before attributing the coagulopathies to hepatic disease. The routine use of coagulation tests to diagnose hepatic disease is not practical in veterinary medicine at the present time, but it can be a valuable adjunct to existing tests for hepatic disease and as a prognostic indicator during the course of treatment for established chronic disease.