Another step in improving the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in sepsis

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): Old player creates new perspectives on the polymicrobial sepsis model of CASP

BACKGROUND

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a life-threatening complication of sepsis. In surgical ICUs, DIC is frequently caused by abdominal sepsis, and the disarranged coagulation and complications often lead to death. The severity of sepsis is associated with a higher DIC score according to the parameters proposed by the International Society of Hemostasis and Thrombosis (ISTH) in 2001: platelet count, bleeding time (Quick), D-dimer, and fibrinogen. One problem in studying DIC is finding an adequate animal model that reflects the clinical situation of polymicrobial overwhelming infection.

AIMS AND METHODS

We investigated whether a well-established polymicrobial sepsis model of colon ascendens stent peritonitis (CASP) is suited to investigate the complexity of DIC. For this purpose, CASP-operated mice were examined 20 h after the operation with regard to coagulation parameters using cell counts, bleeding times, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), ELISAs for D-dimer and fibrinogen, and platelet accumulation in affected organs via immunohistochemistry to see if the mice develop a coagulation disorder that meets the definition of DIC proposed by the ISTH 2001 consensus conference.

RESULTS

Herein, we showed that the CASP model is an all-encompassing animal model to analyze the complexity of systemic DIC in murine abdominal sepsis. There is highly reproducible thrombocytopenia, a significant prolongation of the bleeding time, and a loss of fibrinogen in plasma. We also observed microvascular thrombosis due to platelet accumulation in the microcirculation of the liver.

CONCLUSION

The CASP model seems superior to other artificial models, e.g., injecting substances, for inducing DIC. CASP is one of the best true-to-life models for analyzing the complexity of disseminated intravascular coagulation in polymicrobial sepsis.

Comparison of a new criteria for sepsis-induced coagulopathy and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis disseminated intravascular coagulation score in critically ill patients with sepsis 3.0: a retrospective study

Recently, new criteria for sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) were developed, including the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) criteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the new SIC criteria in patients diagnosed with sepsis 3.0. Data from patients diagnosed with sepsis 3.0 after ICU admission were retrospectively obtained from July 2013 to June 2014. Relevant demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were noted. This study included 252 patients. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), modified ISTH-DIC, and SIC scores were higher among nonsurvivors (P < 0.0001). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (P < 0.001), ISTH (P = 0.001), modified ISTH (P = 0.001), and SIC scores (P = 0.007) were independent predictors of ICU mortality. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, SOFA had the greatest power for predicting ICU mortality; ISTH or modified ISTH score had greater predictive power than the SIC score. There were strong correlations between SIC score and ISTH (P < 0.0001), modified ISTH (P < 0.0001), the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (P = 0.012), and SOFA (P < 0.0001) scores. More nonsurvivors were diagnosed with DIC using the ISTH and modified ISTH criteria (P < 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with SIC between both groups (P = 0.055). ISTH score, modified ISTH score, and SIC score were independent risk factors for ICU mortality. Compared with the ISTH and modified ISTH scores, SIC score showed no advantage in diagnosing sepsis-associated coagulopathy or DIC. The application of these three criteria in patients with sepsis 3.0 needs further evaluation.

A Proposal of the Modification of Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH) Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Diagnostic Criteria for Sepsis-Associated DIC

Sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) carries a high risk of death. Thus, a simple tool to quickly establish DIC diagnosis is required. The purpose of this study was to introduce the simple and reliable tool for the prediction of outcome in patients with sepsis complicated by coagulopathy. We investigated the performance of simplified Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH) DIC diagnostic criteria. In this study, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter survey in 107 general emergency and critical care centers in secondary and tertiary care hospitals. A total of 918 patients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy who underwent antithrombin supplementation were examined. The relationships between patient mortality and each of the baseline (ie, before treatment) JSTH-DIC diagnostic criteria were examined. A reduced platelet count, increased prothrombin time (PT) ratio, and lower antithrombin activity were correlated with 28-day mortality, while fibrinogen and fibrin degradation product (FDP) level were not. Thus, the number of points assigned to FDP levels was reduced from 3 to 1 (above 20 μg/mL). The simplified JSTH diagnostic criteria combining platelet count, PT ratio, antithrombin activity, and FDP level (reduction in the maximum score) strongly predicted 28-day mortality and allowed us to diagnose a larger/similar number of patients with DIC as compared to the original JSTH-DIC. The simplified JSTH-DIC diagnostic criteria show a similar performance to JSTH-DIC criteria in patients with septic coagulopathy. The lower number of laboratory markers used in the simplified JSTH-DIC score may increase its applicability and routine use in emergency and critical care setting.

Assessment of Haemostasis in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation by Use of Point-of-Care Assays and Routine Coagulation Tests, in Critically Ill Patients; A Prospective Observational Study

Background

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) relates to the consumption of coagulation factors and platelets with bleeding and micro thrombosis events.

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare haemostasis parameters in critically ill patients with DIC versus patients without DIC, and in survivors versus non-survivors over time. Correlations between the DIC-score, the degree of organ failure and the haemostasis were assessed.

Method

Patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a condition known to be associated with DIC and with an expected length of stay of >3 days were included. Routine laboratory tests, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, fibrinogen concentration and D-dimer were measured. Coagulation and platelet function were assessed with two point-of-care devices; Multiplate and ROTEM. DIC scores were calculated according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis and Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.

Results

Blood was sampled on days 0–1, 2–3 and 4–10 from 136 patients with mixed diagnoses during 290 sampling events. The point-of-care assays indicated a hypocoagulative response (decreased platelet aggregation and reduced clot strength) in patients with DIC and, over time, in non-survivors compared to survivors. Patients with DIC as well as non-survivors had decreased fibrinolysis as shown by ROTEM. DIC scores were higher in non-survivors than in survivors.

Conclusions

Patients with DIC displayed signs of a hypocoagulative response and impaired fibrinolysis, which was also evident over time in non-survivors. Patients with DIC had a higher mortality rate than non-DIC patients, and DIC scores were higher in non-survivors than in survivors.

Present and future of anticoagulant therapy using antithrombin and thrombomodulin for sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation: a perspective from Japan

In sepsis, the coagulation system is often systemically activated in combination with the simultaneous impairment of fibrinolysis and anticoagulant systems. Since this hypercoagulable state often leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients, the appropriate management of DIC itself is a crucial part of treatment strategies for severe sepsis. In this context, the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine (JAAM) scoring system for DIC has been proposed as a valid test for diagnosing DIC; this system is also expected to aid in devising specifically tailored management strategies. Anticoagulant therapy is commonly given to septic patients with DIC as part of the standard care in Japan. More recently, antithrombin concentrate and recombinant thrombomodulin have become the two major anticoagulant agents of choice. In relation to the use of antithrombin, recent studies have indicated that the recovery of antithrombin activity to within the normal range (>70%) is necessary if supplementation therapy is to provide a favorable outcome. Recombinant thrombomodulin is slightly more controversial, with favorable results being greater among severe cases of DIC. In the present review, we summarize recent clinical advances in anticoagulant therapy for sepsis-associated DIC.

Hemostatic abnormalities in critically ill patients

Hemostatic abnormalities frequently occur in critically ill patients and may vary from prolonged global clotting tests or isolated thrombocytopenia, to composite defects, such as consumption coagulopathies. There are many reasons for a disturbed coagulation in intensive care patients, and each of these underlying syndromes may require specific therapeutic intervention. Hence, an adequate differential diagnosis and initiation of proper (supportive) therapeutic strategies are critical to decrease morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients with hemostatic abnormalities.