Which clotting factors are affected in liver disease?

Liver disease significantly impacts the synthesis of various clotting factors because the liver is responsible for producing most of the coagulation factors necessary for normal hemostasis. In particular, liver dysfunction typically results in decreased levels of factors I (fibrinogen), II (prothrombin), V, VII, IX, and X, among others.

Factor I (fibrinogen) is essential for the formation of the fibrin clot, while factor II (prothrombin) is crucial for thrombin generation in the coagulation cascade. Factor V functions as a cofactor for the prothrombinase complex, which converts prothrombin to thrombin, and factor VII is involved in initiating the extrinsic pathway of coagulation by activating factor X. Factors IX and X are essential downstream factors that contribute to the common pathway of coagulation.

In the context of liver disease, these factors are typically affected due to the liver's impaired ability to produce proteins necessary for clotting. This comprehensive impact on various factors leads to coagulopathy, which is frequently observed in patients with advanced liver disease.

The options that mention different groups of factor numbers either omit crucial factors that would be affected by liver disease or include factors not primarily