Do you use FVIII levels to differentiate between DIC and coagulopathy of liver disease?

DIC is a clinical diagnosis that is difficult to establish in the absence of bleeding or thrombosis, particularly in patients with liver disease. I do think that following DIC laboratory markers (FDP, fibrinogen, D-dimer) serially may be helpful as you would not expect them to acutely drop simply be...

I personally teach to check FV and FVIII and a Vit K dependent factor, although the protime is a good approximation of FVII in most cases, when a diagnosis of Liver dysfunction, DIC, and Vit K deficiency are all possible or there may be more than one phenomenon at play.

Factor V was referred to as “t...

Yes, but only in the context of the many other parameters that one measures in working up these patients.

Factor VIII is an acute phase reactant and is often elevated in liver disease. It is not a reliable marker in this setting.