Diagnostic Criteria for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Classification	Definition	Diagnostic criteria
Biological DIC	Hemostatic defect without clinical manifestations	Elevated D-Dimers and 1 major criterion for consumption of platelets or coagulation factors or 2 minor criteria for consumption of platelets or coagulation factors
Clinical DIC	Hemostatic defect with hemorrhagic or ischemic manifestations	Same as above + microvascular bleeding and/or thrombosis
Complicated DIC	Hemostatic defect with hemorrhagic or ischemic manifestations that jeopardize organ function or patient prognosis	Same as above + organ failure (single or multiple)

Details of laboratory criteria

D-Dimers greater than 500 µg·L–1

Platelet consumption

Minor: platelet count between 50 and 100,000·/mm³
Major: platelet count less than 50,000·/mm³

Consumption of coagulation factors

Minor: INR of the PT between 1.2 and 1.5
Major: INR of the PT greater than 1.5

INR of the PT = international normalized ratio of the prothrombin time. The elevation of D-Dimers is not specific to DIC. Similarly, the clinical manifestations of DIC are not specific.

References;

Taylor FB Jr, Toh CH, Hoots WK, Wada H, Levi M; Scientific Subcommittee on Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH). Towards definition, clinical and laboratory criteria, and a scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation. Thromb Haemost. 2001 Nov;86(5):1327-30. [Medline]