The incidence of a hyperfibrinolytic state and its clinical significance in the clinical history of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), are still being debated. This study reports the prevalence of hyperfibrinolysis and its relationship to clinical and laboratory features in 81 consecutive LC patients, 20 with A, 23 with B and 38 with C grade according to Child-Pugh's classification. In 28 LC patients (34.5%), a hyperfibrinolytic state was assessed by high circulating levels of fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) (>l0ug(ml) and confirmed by increased levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity. In this patients' subgroup, significantly lower levels of prothrombin activity (Normotest) (p=0.0001), fibrinogen (p=0.001) and platelet count (p