Modified non-overt DIC diagnostic criteria predict the early phase of overt-DIC

Rethinking coagulation: from enzymatic cascade and cell-based reactions to a convergent model involving innate immune activation

ABSTRACT

Advancements in the conceptual thinking of hemostasis and thrombosis have been catalyzed by major developments within health research over several decades. The cascade model of coagulation was first described in the 1960s, when biochemistry gained prominence through innovative experimentation and technical developments. This was followed by the cell-based model, which integrated cellular coordination to the enzymology of clot formation and was conceptualized during the growth period in cell biology at the turn of the millennium. Each step forward has heralded a revolution in clinical therapeutics, both in procoagulant and anticoagulant treatments to improve patient care. In current times, the COVID-19 pandemic may also prove to be a catalyst: thrombotic challenges including the mixed responses to anticoagulant treatment and the vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia have exposed limitations in our preexisting concepts while simultaneously demanding novel therapeutic approaches. It is increasingly clear that innate immune activation as part of the host response to injury is not separate but integrated into adaptive clot formation. Our review summarizes current understanding of the major molecules facilitating such a cross talk between immunity, inflammation and coagulation. We demonstrate how such effects can be layered upon the cascade and cell-based models to evolve conceptual understanding of the physiology of immunohemostasis and the pathology of immunothrombosis.

A prospective evaluation of the prevalence of thromboemboli and associated hemostatic dysfunction in dogs with carcinoma or sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of the prevalence of thromboemboli and the associated hemostatic status in dogs with carcinoma or sarcoma is unknown and might allow earlier intervention.

OBJECTIVES

Estimate prevalence of thromboemboli and their association with hemostatic changes in dogs with carcinomas or sarcomas; estimate predictive values of hemostatic variables for thromboembolic disease in tumor-bearing dogs.

ANIMALS

Thirty-two dogs with sarcoma, 30 with carcinoma, 20 healthy age-controlled dogs.

METHODS

Prospective cross-sectional study. A hemostasis panel (platelet concentration, thromboelastography, fibrinogen and D-dimer concentration, factor X, VII and antithrombin activity) was performed in all dogs. Tumor-bearing dogs underwent complete post mortem and histopathological evaluation. Comparisons between healthy dogs and tumor-bearing dogs with and without intracavitary hemorrhage; and tumor-bearing dogs with and without microthrombi were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thromboembolic disease was identified in 32/62 (52%, 95% CI: 39%-65%) tumor-bearing dogs. Microthrombi were identified in 31/62 (50%, 95% CI: 37%-63%) dogs, 21/31 (68%, 95% CI: 49%-83%) had exclusively intra-tumoral microthrombi, 10/31 (32%, 95% CI: 17%-51%) had distant microthrombi. Macrothrombi were identified in 3 tumor-bearing dogs. Hemostatic changes potentially consistent with overt and non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulation were identified in some tumor-bearing dogs. D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher (P = .02) and platelet concentration significantly lower (P = .03) in tumor-bearing dogs with microthrombi compared to tumor-bearing dogs without microthrombi. D-dimer concentration above 500 ng/mL was 80% sensitive and 41% specific for the prediction of microthrombi presence.

CONCLUSION

The high microthrombi prevalence and concomitant hemostatic dysfunction in dogs with carcinomas or sarcomas has not previously been reported, though the clinical importance is unknown. Increased D-dimer concentration might increase suspicion of microthrombi.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation and its immune mechanisms

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a syndrome triggered by infectious and noninfectious pathologies characterized by excessive generation of thrombin within the vasculature and widespread proteolytic conversion of fibrinogen. Despite diverse clinical manifestations ranging from thrombo-occlusive damage to bleeding diathesis, DIC etiology commonly involves excessive activation of blood coagulation and overlapping dysregulation of anticoagulants and fibrinolysis. Initiation of blood coagulation follows intravascular expression of tissue factor or activation of the contact pathway in response to pathogen-associated or host-derived, damage-associated molecular patterns. The process is further amplified through inflammatory and immunothrombotic mechanisms. Consumption of anticoagulants and disruption of endothelial homeostasis lower the regulatory control and disseminate microvascular thrombosis. Clinical DIC development in patients is associated with worsening morbidities and increased mortality, regardless of the underlying pathology; therefore, timely recognition of DIC is critical for reducing the pathologic burden. Due to the diversity of triggers and pathogenic mechanisms leading to DIC, diagnosis is based on algorithms that quantify hemostatic imbalance, thrombocytopenia, and fibrinogen conversion. Because current diagnosis primarily assesses overt consumptive coagulopathies, there is a critical need for better recognition of nonovert DIC and/or pre-DIC states. Therapeutic strategies for patients with DIC involve resolution of the eliciting triggers and supportive care for the hemostatic imbalance. Despite medical care, mortality in patients with DIC remains high, and new strategies, tailored to the underlying pathologic mechanisms, are needed.

Nonovert disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in pregnancy: a new scoring system for the identification of patients at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion

BACKGROUND

Nonovert disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a subclinical hemostatic dysfunction that has not yet reached the decompensation stage. The detection of pregnant patients at this stage may assist in the identification of those who will develop severe obstetrical hemorrhage, as it is one of the leading causes for preventable maternal mortality. Currently, nonovert DIC is diagnosed by a scoring system based on nonpregnant patients, originally generated by the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH), which does not address the physiologic changes of the hemostatic system during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To develop a pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score, (2) to determine the diagnostic performance of this score in detecting women at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion, and (3) to compare it to the existing ISTH nonovert DIC score.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective study has longitudinal and cross-sectional components and includes three steps: (1) characterization of the longitudinal changes in the components of modified ISTH nonovert DIC scores, including these parameters - fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, prothrombin time (PT), platelets, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex, and D-dimer - during gestation in a group of normal pregnancies (n = 50); (2) development of a pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score in a cross-sectional design of high-risk (n = 152) and control (n = 50) pregnancies, based on the predictive performance of each analyte for the detection of women at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion and a logistic regression model; and (3) comparison between the diagnostic performance of the pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score and the modified ISTH nonovert DIC score to detect, upon admission, women who are at increased risk for subsequent development of obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion.

RESULTS

(1) The study cohort included 202 patients, of which 21 (10%) had obstetrical hemorrhage that required blood product transfusion and were considered to have nonovert DIC; (2) using the nonpregnant ISTH nonovert DIC score, 92% of the patients had a D-dimer concentration above the 0.5 mg/L threshold, and only 2% were identified to have a low fibrinogen concentration (<100 mg/dL); thus, this scoring system was unable to identify any of the patients with nonovert DIC based on the suggested cutoff of a score of ≥5; (3) the parameters included in the pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score were selected based on their contribution to the performance of the model for the prediction of women at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion; as a result, we excluded the PT difference parameter from the score and the TAT complex concentration was added; and (4) a pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score of ≥3 had a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 77.9% to identify patients at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion.

CONCLUSION

We propose (1) a pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score adjusted for the physiologic changes in the hemostatic system during gestation; and (2) that the pregnancy-specific nonovert DIC score can be a useful tool for the identification of patients at risk for obstetrical hemorrhage requiring blood product transfusion.

Outcome of Early Hemostatic Intervention in Children With Sepsis and Nonovert Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Admitted to PICU: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of the outcome of early hemostatic management of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock admitted to PICU, before the development of clinically overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

DESIGN

Prospective interventional, open label randomized controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

PICU at Alexandria University Children's Hospital.

PATIENTS

The study included 80 patients with proven severe sepsis/septic shock in nonovert disseminated intravascular coagulopathy stage. They were randomly assigned into two groups (group 1 and group 2).

INTERVENTIONS

Specific intervention was applied for group 1 (plasma transfusion, low-dose unfractionated heparin, and tranexamic acid).

MEASUREMENTS

All patients had assessment of Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 score, Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, inotropic score, routine laboratory, and hemostatic tests including fibrin degradation products and d-dimers. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy risk assessment scores were calculated on daily basis.

RESULTS

Mortality rate was significantly higher in group 2. Progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy was significantly more common among group 2 patients than group 1 (45% and 10%, respectively) (p < 0.0001). Disseminated intravascular coagulopathyRisk Assessment Scores were significantly higher on the second and fifth days among group 2 patients. The initial specific hemostatic intervention was the only significant predictor of survival and prevention of progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that early use of a combination of fresh frozen plasma transfusion, low-dose heparin, and tranexamic acid in children with severe sepsis/septic shock in the "window of opportunity" before the development of overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy stage was associated with better outcome for survival and prevention of progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, with no increase in bleeding risk. Larger multicenter studies are needed to further prove this practice.

Non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy associated with the first obinutuzumab administration in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Infusion-related reactions are among the worst complications of obinutuzumab (G) administration and occur predominantly during the first infusion. We reported another adverse event related to the first G infusion, a subclinical coagulopathy. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 13 pts with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with a frontline G-chlorambucil regimen. Six pts developed non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) (46%) after the first administration of G. The coagulopathy was subclinical and self-limited in all pts, not requiring any intervention apart from the suspension of anticoagulant therapy in one pt. We observed a drop in the platelet count, an elevation of D-dimer levels, and an elongation of activated partial thromboplastin time. We found a significant difference in the platelet count between the pts with DIC and those withouts; in fact, all the six pts with non-overt DIC had a platelet count greater than 100 × 10⁹ /L, while in the other group only one (p = 0.019). A trend towards a lower lymphocyte count and a higher CD20 expression was found in the pts with DIC. No other correlation between the DIC complication and the clinical or laboratory characteristics of the patients was found. The pathogenesis of the G-related non-overt DIC could be related to the consumption of the platelets after the lysis of lymphocytes, probably triggered by the damage associated molecular patterns. Despite its limitations, this study describes a new adverse event and identifies a specific subgroup of patients whose clinical management at the time of the infusion of G may need to be refined.

Thrombin-antithrombin complex measurement using a point-of-care testing device for diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in dogs

Reference interval for thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) level was determined using an in-house TAT measurement device, and its validity for diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was evaluated in dogs. One hundred and two clinically healthy dogs and 247 diseased dogs with conditions that potentially caused DIC were recruited in the study. Six diagnostic testing for DIC were evaluated in diseased dogs and the diseased dogs were categorized into five groups depending on abnormal findings. TAT was measured in all study animals and between-group differences were evaluated. TAT level was positively associated with severity of DIC. There were no significant differences in TAT levels among clinically healthy dogs, diseased dogs without any abnormal finding and diseased dogs with one abnormal finding in the DIC diagnostic testing. TAT levels in groups with two or more abnormal findings were significantly higher than clinically healthy dogs. Reference interval of TAT level for clinically healthy dogs was ≤ 0.25 ng/ml. Validity of using TAT for early detection of DIC was evaluated. In-house TAT measurement was suggested to be a clinically relevant and useful tool for early detection of canine DIC.

Clinical utility of fibrin-related biomarkers in human acute pancreatitis

AIM

To investigate whether the four fibrin-related markers (FRMs) fibrin monomer (FM), D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FIB), and fibrin degradation products (FDP) reflect the extent of coagulation activation in vivo and to assess the predictive value of the FRMs in determining persistent organ failure (POF) and pancreatic necrosis (PN) in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-two AP patients were included in this prospective observational study. The final outcome was disease severity assessed by presence of POF and PN. The levels of the four FRMs were measured on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after admission. ROC curves were used to compare the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of FM, D-D, and FDP in predicting POF and PN with those of regular biochemical markers C-reaction protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

RESULTS

Of the 152 patients included, 32 had POF and 44 had PN. There was no significant difference in serum FM levels between AP with POF and AP without POF at the first week after admission. Patients with PN had significantly higher FM than those without PN on day 1 (P = 0.043), day 2 (P = 0.008), day 3 (P = 0.001), and day 7 (P = 0.002) after admission. D-D was significantly higher in patients with POF than in those without on day 1 (P = 0.001), day 2 (P = 0.004), day 3 (P = 0.000), and day 7 (P = 0.002). Patients with PN had significantly higher D-D on day 1 (P = 0.023), day 2 (P = 0.045), day 3 (P = 0.000), and day 7 (P = 0.000) after admission. FDP was significantly higher in patients with POF than in those without on day 1 (P = 0.000), day 2 (P = 0.000), day 3 (P = 0.000), and day 7 (P = 0.000). Patients with PN had signficantly higher FDP on day 2 (P = 0.021), day 3 (P = 0.000), and day 7 (P = 0.000) after admission. FIB did not differ significantly between AP patients with POF and those without, or between AP patients with PN and those without. ROC analysis revealed that D-D (AUC = 0.693) and FDP (AUC = 0.711) were superior to CRP (AUC = 0.615) and LDH (AUC = 0.672) in predicting POF on day 1 of hospital admission, and D-D (AUC = 0.832) and FDP (AUC = 0.814) were superior than LDH (AUC = 0.639) and CRP (AUC = 0.706) in predicting PN on day 3 of hospital admission.

CONCLUSION

Plasma FRMs in AP patients increase significantly on the first week after admission. FDP and D-D correlate with disease severity of AP and can be considered as a potentially useful tool for the early diagnosis of AP with POF and PN.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Criteria for the Basic Type of DIC Established by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

We evaluated the diagnostic criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which was published by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH), in 232 patients with suspected DIC without hematopoietic injury or infection. The diagnoses of the patients were as follows: DIC (n = 116), pre-DIC (n = 54), and non-DIC (n = 63). The efficacy of the diagnostic criteria for DIC was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. The area under the curve and odds ratio for the global coagulation test (GCT) scores in the diagnosis of "DIC" were high, whereas those for the diagnosis of "DIC and pre-DIC" were low, suggesting that the addition of a reduced platelet count (RPC), antithrombin (AT), and soluble fibrin (SF)/thrombin AT (TAT) complex was required to diagnose DIC and pre-DIC. When the GCT score with the RPC, AT, and TAT/SF values was used, the cutoff DIC score for the diagnosis of DIC or DIC and pre-DIC was 6 points. For predicting the outcome, a scoring system that used the GCT result was useful, but the addition of RPC, AT, or SF/TAT was not. The modified diagnostic criteria of JSTH, which included the GCT score and the RPC, AT, and TAT/SF values, were useful for diagnosing both DIC and pre-DIC.

The valuable diagnosis of DIC and pre-DIC and prediction of a poor outcome by the evaluation of diagnostic criteria for DIC in patients with hematopoietic injury established by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the modified diagnostic criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which was published by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH), in 274 suspected DIC patients with hematopoietic injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The diagnoses of the patients were as follows: DIC (n=125); pre-DIC (n=42) and non-DIC (n=107). The efficacy of the diagnostic criteria for DIC was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (ARC) and odd's ratio for the global coagulation test (GCT) scores in the diagnosis of "DIC" were high, while those for the diagnosis of "DIC and pre-DIC" were low, suggesting that the addition of antithrombin (AT) and soluble fibrin (SF)/thrombin antithrobin complex (TAT) was required to diagnose "DIC and pre-DIC". Although the addition of the AT and SF/TAT values to the GCT did not increase its ability to predict a poor outcome, the JSTH's modified diagnostic criteria scores were correlated with the odds ratio for death.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The JSTH's modified diagnostic criteria for DIC, which included the GCT score, and the AT, and TAT/SF values, were useful for diagnosing DIC and pre-DIC, and predicting a poor outcome.

An Evaluation of the Modified Diagnostic Criteria for DIC Established by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

Objective:

We evaluated the modified diagnostic criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which was published by the Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH) in 108 patients with suspected infectious DIC.

Material and methods:

The diagnoses of the patients were as follows: DIC (n = 63), pre-DIC (n = 22), and non-DIC (n = 45). The efficacy of the diagnostic criteria for DIC was evaluated using a receiver–operating characteristic analysis.

Results:

Although the area under the curve for global coagulation test (GCT) scores in the diagnosis of “DIC” was high that for the diagnosis of “DIC and pre-DIC” was low, suggesting that the addition of antithrombin (AT), soluble fibrin (SF)/thrombin–AT complex (TAT), and reduced platelet count (PLT) values was required to diagnose “DIC and pre-DIC.” Using GCT score with the AT, SF/TAT, and reduced PLT values, the cutoff value of the DIC score for the diagnosis of “DIC and pre-DIC” was 5 points.

Discussion and conclusion:

The modified JSTH’s diagnostic criteria for DIC, which used the GCT score and the reduced PLT, AT, and TAT/SF values, were useful for diagnosing “DIC and pre-DIC.”

The efficacy of the administration of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin in patients with DIC

Efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM), which is frequently used to treat patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), was compared with that of gabexate mesilate (GM), which was previously used routinely in the treatment of DIC patients in Japan. Although there was no significant difference in the resolution rates of the patients who were treated with rhTM and GM, the results of our analysis revealed that the mortality rate was significantly higher among infectious disease patients treated with GM than in those treated with rhTM. Levels of fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDP), antithrombin (AT) activity, and thrombin AT complex (TAT) were significantly lower in the DIC patients with infectious diseases, while fibrinogen levels were high. FDP level, D-dimer, platelet count, PT ratio, and DIC score all showed significant improvement following rhTM treatment. There were no significant difference between survivors and non-survivors in terms of DIC score, FDP level, platelet count, AT activity, or in TAT, SF and PPIC levels before rhTM treatment. However, fibrinogen levels were significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors. These results indicate that rhTM may be superior to GM for the treatment of DIC.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of Fibrin Monomer in Comparison to d-Dimer in Patients With Overt and Nonovert Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

INTRODUCTION

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a thrombohemorrhagic disorder characterized by hyperactivation of coagulation and secondary fibrinolysis.

AIM

The primary aim of this prospective study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of fibrin monomer (FM) and d-dimer (DD) for the preemptive diagnosis of DIC in the early stages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patients were categorized into 3 groups: overt DIC, nonovert DIC, and non-DIC based on the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis scoring for overt DIC and the modified nonovert-DIC criteria. Coagulation tests were performed on freshly obtained plasma. Quantitative determination of FM and DD was done by immunoturbidimetric assay.

RESULTS

Median DD and FM levels in patients with overt DIC were significantly higher in comparison to the other 2 groups. Interestingly, unlike DD, the difference in FM levels was also found to be statistically significant between patients with nonovert DIC and non-DIC patients ( P = .0001). At receiver-operator characteristic curve-generated cutoff values, FM had higher specificity and negative predictive value than DD for predicting onset of overt DIC. Multivariate analysis showed that only FM was as an independent predictive factor useful in differentiating patients with overt DIC from non-DIC patients (odds ratio [OR]: 43.3; confidence interval [CI] 4.61-406.68; P value = .001) as well as in distinguishing nonovert DIC from non-DIC patients (OR:18.3; CI 3.45-97.19; P value = .001).

CONCLUSION

Fibrin monomer is a better indicator than DD in distinguishing patients with overt and nonovert DIC from non-DIC patients, raising the possibility for its diagnostic utility as a marker for impending overt DIC, aiding in early diagnosis and prompt therapeutic intervention.

Design and Evaluation of New Unified Criteria for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Based on the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Criteria

Background:

Current disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) criteria are insufficient for predicting mortality. Hemostatic endothelial molecular markers are useful for DIC diagnoses. We aimed to design new DIC criteria involving these markers based on the recently published Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) DIC criteria, which exhibit higher sensitivity for mortality.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Japan between September 2009 and November 2011 were included. Clinical data, including hemostatic endothelial molecular markers, were measured within 12 hours after admission. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted for 8 candidate variables to identify the mortality-related markers. Then, we designed new unified criteria based on the JAAM DIC criteria and involving the identified optimal markers.

Results:

Of the 79 patients, 66 (83.5%) survived and 13 (16.5%) died. Protein C activity correlated best with mortality with a very high prognostic value (area under the curves [AUCs] = 0.850; P < .001), followed by plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (AUC = 0.828; P < .001). The unified criteria, consisting of the JAAM DIC criteria plus these 2 markers, exhibited greater prognostic value for mortality (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 80.3%). Moreover, DIC-positive patients using the unified criteria had significantly higher disease severity, as indicated by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores.

Conclusion:

Our unified criteria involving hemostatic endothelial molecular markers reflected not only mortality but also the severity of illness in patients with severe sepsis.

Diagnosis and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a condition in which systemic activation of coagulation without a specific localization occurs, resulting in extensive formation of intravascular fibrin, particularly in small and midsize vessels. Disseminated intravascular coagulation may lead to several altered coagulation parameters, including a low platelet count, abnormal global clotting assays, low levels of physiological anticoagulant proteases, or increased fibrin degradation products. Also, more complex assays for activation of coagulation factors or pathways may indicate involvement of these molecules in DIC. None of these tests alone, however, can accurately ascertain or rebuff a diagnosis of DIC. Nonetheless, a combination of readily available routine assays may be instrumental in establishing a diagnosis of DIC and can also be useful to point to a subset of patients with DIC that may need definite, often costly, interventions in the hemostatic system. Current insights on relevant etiological pathways that may contribute to the occurrence of DIC have led to innovative therapeutic and adjunctive approaches to patient with DIC. Management options directed at the amelioration of hemostatic activation may tentatively be indicated and were found to be advantageous in experimental and clinical investigations. These treatments encompass elimination of tissue factor-mediated thrombin generation or restitution of normal anticoagulant function.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation: testing and diagnosis

Abnormalities of the hemostatic system in patients with DIC result from the sum of vectors for hypercoagulation and hyperfibrinolysis. DIC is classified into hyperfibrinolysis, hypercoagulation, massive bleeding or nonsymptomatic types according to the balance of the two vectors. Both the antithrombin (AT) and protein C (PC) levels are significantly low in patients with septic DIC, and reduced amounts of AT and PC result in the lack of inhibition of thrombin and activated FVIII, respectively. Thrombin activates FVIII, while activated FVIII accelerates the coagulation pathway to generate thrombin; thus activation of the coagulation system persists. Three sets of diagnostic criteria have been established by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, respectively. Although these three diagnostic criteria score hemostatic abnormalities using similar global coagulation tests, the sensitivity and/or specificity for death differ. Treatment with AT or activated PC may not improve the outcomes of patients with sepsis at the early stage, although they may improve the outcomes in those with DIC. Therefore, new diagnostic criteria for determining the appropriate time to initiate anticoagulant treatment are required.

Diagnosis and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) according to four DIC guidelines

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is categorized into bleeding, organ failure, massive bleeding, and non-symptomatic types according to the sum of vectors for hypercoagulation and hyperfibrinolysis. The British Committee for Standards in Haematology, Japanese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, and the Italian Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis published separate guidelines for DIC; however, there are several differences between these three sets of guidelines. Therefore, the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recently harmonized these differences and published the guidance of diagnosis and treatment for DIC. There are three different diagnostic criteria according to the Japanese Ministry Health, Labour and Welfare, ISTH, and Japanese Association of Acute Medicine. The first and second criteria can be used to diagnose the bleeding or massive bleeding types of DIC, while the third criteria cover organ failure and the massive bleeding type of DIC. Treatment of underlying conditions is recommended in three types of DIC, with the exception of massive bleeding. Blood transfusions are recommended in patients with the bleeding and massive bleeding types of DIC. Meanwhile, treatment with heparin is recommended in those with the non-symptomatic type of DIC. The administration of synthetic protease inhibitors and antifibrinolytic therapy is recommended in patients with the bleeding and massive bleeding types of DIC. Furthermore, the administration of natural protease inhibitors is recommended in patients with the organ failure type of DIC, while antifibrinolytic treatment is not. The diagnosis and treatment of DIC should be carried out in accordance with the type of DIC.

Diagnostic criteria and laboratory tests for disseminated intravascular coagulation

Three diagnostic criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) have been established by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. The diagnostic criteria involving global coagulation tests, such as the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare criteria and the ISTH overt diagnostic criteria, are first-generation DIC diagnostic criteria, those involving global coagulation tests and changes in these tests such as the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine criteria, are second-generation DIC diagnostic criteria, and those including non-overt DIC diagnostic criteria involving global coagulation tests, changes in these tests and hemostatic molecular markers will be the future (third-generation) DIC diagnostic criteria. There are no significant differences in the three diagnostic criteria with respect to predicting poor outcomes. Therefore, the third generation of diagnostic criteria including hemostatic molecular markers is expected to be established. Standardization and the determination of adequate cutoff values should be required for each laboratory test.

Guidance for diagnosis and treatment of DIC from harmonization of the recommendations from three guidelines

Three guidelines have recently been published for the diagnosis and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in adults. This communication seeks to harmonize the recommendations in these guidelines using a modified GRADE system. The scoring system for diagnosis of DIC using global coagulation tests is known to correlate with key clinical observations and outcomes (Moderate quality). The cornerstone of DIC treatment is the treatment of the underlying condition (Moderate quality). In general, transfusion of platelets or plasma (components) in patients with DIC should be reserved for patients who are bleeding (Low quality). Therapeutic doses of heparin should be considered in cases of DIC where clinical features of thrombosis predominate. Heparin is not recommended in those patients with a high risk of bleeding, (Moderate quality). However, prophylactic doses of unfractionated heparin or low molecular we ight heparin is recommended in critically ill and non-bleeding patients with DIC for prevention of venous thromboembolism (Moderate to High quality). Although further prospective evidence from randomized controlled trials is required, administration of antithrombin or recombinant thrombomodulin may be considered in certain patients with DIC. In general, patients with DIC should not be treated with antifibrinolytic agents (Low quality). However those who present with severe bleeding, that is characterized by a markedly hyperfibrinolytic state such as leukemia (Low quality) and trauma (Moderate quality), may be treated with antifibrinolytic agents. © 2013 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation: a review for the internist

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a syndrome characterized by systemic intravascular activation of coagulation, leading to widespread deposition of fibrin in the circulation. Recent knowledge on important pathogenetic mechanisms that may lead to DIC has resulted in novel preventive and therapeutic approaches to patients with DIC. The diagnosis of DIC can be made by sensitive laboratory tests; however, most of these tests are not readily available in a clinical setting. A reliable diagnosis can also be made on the basis of a small series of laboratory tests that can be combined in a scoring algorithm. The cornerstone of the management of DIC is the specific and vigorous treatment of the underlying disorder. Strategies aimed at the inhibition of coagulation activation may theoretically be justified and have been found beneficial in experimental and clinical studies. These strategies comprise inhibition of tissue factor-mediated activation of coagulation or restoration of physiological anticoagulant pathways.

The utility of a diagnostic scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired syndrome characterized by microvascular thrombosis resulting from systemic activation of coagulation, and it should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. No single test is sufficiently accurate to establish or rule out a diagnosis of DIC. Therefore, diagnostic scoring uses a combination of several laboratory tests. Three diagnostic scoring systems are now available and validated. Because it is not easy to assess the superiority or inferiority of these scoring systems, it may be better to select the scoring system depending on the need for an early or affirmative diagnosis of DIC.

Increased Ratio of Soluble Fibrin Formation/Thrombin Generation in Patients With DIC

The generation of thrombin–antithromin (AT) complex (TAT) or soluble fibrin (SF) was prospectively compared with prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) generation in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The plasma levels of TAT, SF, and F1 + 2 were significantly higher in the DIC group than in the non-DIC group. The differences in these levels between the DIC group and non-DIC group were significantly related to infections and hematopoietic tumors. There were no significant differences in the TAT/F1 + 2 ratio between DIC and non-DIC patients, but the SF/F1 + 2 ratio was significantly higher in the DIC group than the non-DIC group. The plasma AT activity was significantly higher in patients with DIC with resolution than in those without resolution, and in survivors than in nonsurvivors. These findings suggest that the ratio of TAT/thrombin is constant between the patients with and without DIC but that the ratio of fibrin formation/thrombin might increase in DIC.

Diagnostic criteria and laboratory tests for disseminated intravascular coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is associated with organ failure and it is often fatal condition. The main underlying diseases are infection, hematological malignancy and solid cancer. DIC is subclassified into overt DIC and non-overt DIC. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) published the diagnostic criteria for DIC after several recent clinical trials. These diagnostic criteria are modified versions of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (JMHLW) criteria. The JAAM diagnostic criteria demonstrated excellent sensitivity for mortality but low specificity. The mechanisms of onset of DIC vary based on the underlying diseases, and depend on tissue factor, cytokines, etc. Early diagnosis and early treatment for DIC are important, and the use of hemostatic molecular markers is necessary to successfully make an early and rapid diagnosis. The mortality of DIC might be improved by the administration of recombinant activated protein C or recombinant thrombomodulin. Further investigation to improve the mortality of DIC is required, including new methods for diagnosing and treating the disease.

Evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome-scoring models and severe illness

BACKGROUND

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are considered to be a serious threat to public health worldwide with up to 100 million cases annually. The general hypothesis is that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an important part of the pathogenesis. The study objectives were to study the variability of DIC in consecutive patients with acute hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), and to evaluate if different established DIC-scores can be used as a prognostic marker for a more severe illness.

METHOD AND FINDINGS

In a prospective study 2006-2008, data from 106 patients with confirmed HFRS were analyzed and scored for the presence of DIC according to six different templates based on criteria from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH). The DIC-scoring templates with a fibrinogen/CRP-ratio were most predictive, with predictions for moderate/severe illness (p<0.01) and bleeding of moderate/major importance (p<0.05). With these templates, 18.9-28.3% of the patients were diagnosed with DIC.

CONCLUSIONS

DIC was found in about one fourth of the patients and correlated with a more severe disease. This supports that DIC is an important part of the pathogenesis in HFRS. ISTH-scores including fibrinogen/CRP-ratio outperform models without. The high negative predictive value could be a valuable tool for the clinician. We also believe that our findings could be relevant for other VHFs.

Prospective evaluation of hemostatic abnormalities in overt DIC due to various underlying diseases

Patients with suspected disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were prospectively evaluated for various types of underlying diseases, and the usefulness of hemostatic markers were examined for each patient with DIC due to various underlying diseases. The main underlying disease of DIC was infectious diseases, hematologic malignancies, and solid tumors, and a high resolution rate from DIC was observed in obstetric diseases and hematologic malignancies. The diagnosis of DIC was related to a poor outcome in trauma/burn victims and those with infectious disease. In the main underlying disease, it is suggested that DIC would be excluded in patients with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors with a platelet count of more than 100,000/μl and in the patients with an FDP of less than 10 μg/ml, and fibrinogen of less than 100mg/dl, suggesting the presence of DIC. The prothrombin time was a sensitive marker, but fibrinogen levels were not sensitive for DIC due to infectious diseases. The plasmin plasmin inhibitor complex in hematologic malignancy, and soluble fibrin monomer complex, antithrombin and thrombomodulin in patients with infectious disease, were sensitive markers for the diagnosis of DIC. Although hemostatic markers were useful for the diagnosis of DIC, the usefulness varied depending on the different underlying diseases.