Objective To explore the value of thromboelastography (TEG) and conventional coagulation test in the diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in cirrhotic patients.

Method Patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from December 2015 to February 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had developed PVT. The clinical data, indexes of TEG and conventional coagulation were compared between the PVT group and non-PVT group.

Results A total of 199 patients were included, with 82 (41.2%) in the PVT group and 117 (58.8%) in the non-PVT group. There were no statistically significant differences in TEG parameters between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female (OR=3.061, 95%CI 1.389-6.744, P=0.005), history of splenectomy (OR=5.740, 95% CI 1.876-17.568, P=0.002), and elevated D-dimer (OR=1.533, 95% CI 1.182-1.989, P=0.001) were independent associated factors of PVT; Child B/C (OR=12.844, 95%CI 2.452-67.263, P=0.003), shortened R time (OR=0.526, 95%CI 0.294-0.942, P=0.031), and increased platelet count (OR=1.013, 95%CI 1.005-1.021, P=0.001) were independent associated factors of portal vein cavernous transformation.

Conclusion TEG facilitates the evaluation of the development of portal vein cavernous transformation.