laboratory features
Last reviewed 01/2021
- thrombocytopenia - may be mild in chronic DIC
- elevated fibrin degradation products (FDPs) - may be measured by D-dimer assay (monoclonal antibodies to D-dimer fragments)
- fibrinogen - decreased in acute DIC; variable in chronic DIC
- PT - increased in acute DIC; normal / slightly increased in chronic DIC
- APTT - increased in acute DIC; normal, sometimes decreased, in chronic DIC
- thrombin clotting time - usually increased; may be normal in chronic DIC
- sometimes evidence of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia - schistocytes; increased serum LDH; decreased serum haptoglobin; common in renal or malignant disease