Fibrin clots from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure are weaker than those from healthy individuals and patients with sepsis without underlying liver disease

•Previous studies showed decreased permeability but normal structure in cirrhotic plasma clots.•We studied mechanical properties of clots from patients with cirrhosis.•Clots from the sickest patients are soft and rupture at low shear stress.•Permeability results varied per experimental setup, likely due to hypersialylation of fibrinogen.