Summary
The overt DIC score of the DIC subcommittee of the ISTH includes a fibrin-related
marker (FRM) as indicator of intravascular fibrin formation. The type of marker to
be used has not been specified, but D-dimer antigen, or fibrin degradation products
are used by most investigators. Soluble fibrin complexes have been suggested as more
specific indicators of acute intravascular fibrin formation. The aim of the present
study was to compare the predictive value of the overt DIC score concerning clinical
outcome in a surgical intensive care cohort, using either D-dimer antigen, or soluble
fibrin antigen as FRM. The cutoff values for 2 and 3 score points for the FRM were
assigned on the basis of the 25% and 75% quartiles of 1870 plasma samples obtained
from 359 ICU patients during a period of 6 months. For 331 patients with complete
diagnostic workup and day 1 blood samples, the Iatro SF as FRM component of the overt
DIC score displayed the highest prognostic power concerning clinical outcome. The
28-day mortality of patients with overt DIC at day 1, using Iatro SF as FRM assay
was 50.0%, whereas 28-day mortality of patients without overt DIC was 14.0% (p <0.0001).
Using MDA D-dimer, and TINAquant D-dimer, 28-day mortality was between 35.5% and 39.3%
in patients with overt DIC, and 15.5% to 15.6% in patients without overt DIC. Selection
of the FRM as component of the DIC score has a small, but relevant impact on the prognostic
performance of the overt DIC score. The present data on the distribution of values
may provide a basis for the selection of appropriate cutoff points for assigning 2,
and 3 points in the score.
Keywords
Sepsis - disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - fibrin monomer - soluble fibrin
- D-dimer - score