What are the hazards of low prothrombin time

Low prothrombin time may increase the risk of bleeding, including difficulty in stopping surgical bleeding, tendency towards spontaneous bleeding, exacerbation of traumatic bleeding, induction of visceral bleeding, and impact on the safety of anticoagulant therapy.

1. Difficult to stop surgical bleeding:

Prothrombin time reflects exogenous coagulation function, and insufficient fibrinogen conversion occurs when the value is low. When performing invasive procedures such as surgical or tooth extraction, there may be persistent bleeding from the wound, and in severe cases, fresh frozen plasma infusion is required for correction. Before interventional treatment such as cardiac stents, it is important to screen for this indicator.

2. Spontaneous bleeding tendency: When vitamin K deficiency or liver disease leads to reduced prothrombin synthesis, mild symptoms such as subcutaneous bruising and gum bleeding may occur. Severe cases may result in joint cavity hemorrhage or muscle hematoma, and long-term failure to correct it may lead to anemia. Patients with congenital coagulation factor deficiency are more likely to exhibit such symptoms.

3. Aggravating traumatic bleeding: When accidents such as traffic accidents or falls occur, individuals with abnormal coagulation function often experience significantly more bleeding than the general population. Open wounds are difficult to form stable blood clots, and the compression effect of tourniquets may be compromised. This group of people should avoid high-risk sports and keep hemostatic dressings at home.

4. Inducing visceral bleeding:

When the prothrombin time is low in patients with digestive ulcers, the probability of bleeding on the ulcer surface increases by 3-5 times. Patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension may experience sudden rupture of the esophageal and gastric varices, leading to vomiting blood or black stools. The risk of cerebral hemorrhage increases synchronously in patients with intracranial vascular malformation.

5. Impact on anticoagulant therapy:

If the prothrombin time is too low in patients taking warfarin, it suggests that insufficient anticoagulation may lead to the formation of blood clots. However, excessive correction can increase bleeding complications and requires dynamic monitoring through international standardized ratios. Patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery should pay special attention to fluctuations in this indicator. People with low prothrombin time should increase their intake of green leafy vegetables with high vitamin K content, such as spinach and broccoli, and avoid vigorous collision sports. Regularly monitor coagulation function, and observe changes in bleeding volume during women's menstrual period. The hemostasis time after trauma should be extended to at least 15 minutes, and if necessary, seek medical attention promptly to test coagulation factor activity. Long term abnormalities are recommended to be followed up by a hematology specialist to rule out genetic coagulation disorders.