Background/aims Information on coagulation for cirrhotics on anticoagulants is scanty. We investigated plasma from 23 cirrhotics treated with low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) followed by vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Methods On days 1–4 patients received full-dose LMWH. On day-5 VKA was started and LMWH was terminated when INR therapeutic-interval was reached. Blood was collected at peak and trough during LMWH, LMWH + VKA and VKA. Non-cirrhotics on VKA were included as controls. Results Anti-factor Xa increased from baseline-to-peak during LMWH. During LMWH + VKA was high and reverted to zero during VKA. INR was slightly high at baseline, trough or peak during LMWH and increased to 2.2 during LMWH + VKA or VKA. Mean VKA weekly-doses for cirrhotics and controls were 28.5 mg and 28.6 mg. Protein C decreased upon VKA, but not to the expected extent. Endogenous-thrombin-potential (ETP) decreased from baseline (1436 nM min) to trough (1258 nM min) and peak (700 nM min) during LMWH and was further reduced during LMWH + VKA (395 nM min). Conclusions Target-INR for cirrhotics can be reached by VKA dosages similar to those for non-cirrhotics. ETP reduction parallels the effect of LMWH and/or VKA. Whether these parameters represent the antithrombotic action elicited by these drugs remains to be determined by clinical-trials and laboratory-measurements. ETP, being a global-test reflecting both pro- and anti-coagulants targeted by antithrombotic drugs, seems the candidate for these trials.