Systematic review with meta-analysis: abnormalities in the international normalised ratio do not correlate with periprocedural bleeding events among patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Cirrhotic coagulopathy is a delicate interplay comprising deficiencies of both procoagulant and anticoagulant factors.

Aim: To identify the relationship between international normalised ratio [INR] with periprocedural bleeding risk among patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: Following a thorough database search of the primary literature, 29 studies were targeted for analysis, including 13 276 patients with cirrhosis undergoing indicated procedures.

Results: There was no significant association between periprocedural bleeding events and pre-procedural INR [pooled odds ratio 1.52; 95% CI 0.99, 2.33; P = 0.06]. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in mean INR [pooled mean difference 0.05; 95% CI -0.03, 0.13; P = 0.23] upon comparison of patients who either did or did not experience a periprocedural bleeding event. Significant heterogeneity among some studies was primarily fuelled by significant subgroup effects of both specific procedure types performed. Additionally, there were markedly inconsistent transfusion practices across studies.

Conclusions: INR fails to serve as a significant correlate for periprocedural bleeding events among patients with cirrhosis. Ideally, these new findings will help serve as a springboard for future studies, as well as to minimize transfusion of blood products, which command a myriad of adverse effects among patients with cirrhosis.