Risk factors for hemocoagulase-associated hypofibrinogenemia in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND

With the widespread use of hemocoagulase in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, clinicians have become increasingly concerned about coagulation disorders associated with this medication. Risk factors for hypofibrinogenemia associated with hemocoagulase are poorly understood.

AIM: To determine risk factors for hemocoagulase-associated hypofibrinogenemia in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical documentation of hospitalized patients treated with hemocoagulase for gastrointestinal bleeding. Hypofibrinogenemia was defined as a decrease in plasma fibrinogen concentration to less than 2.0 g/L. The included patients were divided into two groups: acquired hypofibrinogenemia group and non-hypofibrinogenemia group. We used logistic regression analysis to identify potential risk factors and established risk assessment criteria by employing a receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

There were 36 patients in the acquired hypofibrinogenemia group and 73 patients in the non-hypofibrinogenemia group. The hypofibrinogenemia group showed higher rates of intensive care unit admissions (P = 0.021), more female patients (P = 0.005), higher in-hospital mortality (P = 0.027), larger hemocoagulase doses (P = 0.026), more Packed Red Cells transfusions (P = 0.024), and lower baseline fibrinogen levels (P < 0.000). Binary logistic regression was employed to examine the risk factors associated with acquired hypofibrinogenemia. The analysis revealed that baseline fibrinogen [odds ratio (OR) 0.252, 95%CI: 0.137-0.464, P < 0.000], total hemocoagulase doses (OR 1.074, 95%CI: 1.015-1.137, P = 0.014), and female gender (OR 2.856, 95%CI: 1.015-8.037, P = 0.047) were statistically significant risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Higher doses of total hemocoagulase, female gender, and a lower baseline fibrinogen level were risk factors for hemocoagulase-associated hypofibrinogenemia in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.