Disseminated 
Intravascular 
Coagulopathy 
• Acquired 
pathologic 
syndrome 
arising 
from 
heterogenous 
group 
of 
underlying 
medical 
condi8ons 
• Event 
that 
can 
accompany 
various 
disease 
processes 
• Leads 
to 
an 
imbalance 
in 
coagula8on 
characterized 
by 
1. Consump8on 
of 
coagula8on 
factors 
and 
platelets 
2. Proteoly8c 
degrada8on 
of 
fibrin 
• Variable 
clinical 
expression 
– Laboratory 
manifesta8ons 
alone, 
or 
in 
combina8on 
with 
– Hemorrhagic 
and 
thrombo8c 
complica8ons 
• Unregulated 
and 
excessive 
genera3on 
of 
thrombin 
and 
plasmin 
– Two 
caveats: 
1. Excess 
thrombin 
with 
reduced 
plasmin 
expression 
à 
microvascular 
fibrin 
deposi;on 
and 
thrombosis 
à 
ischemic 
necrosis 
and 
organ 
dysfunc;on 
2. Excess 
thrombin 
with 
vigorous 
secondary 
fibrinolysis 
Red Blood Cell 
à 
increased 
consump;on 
of 
the 
hemosta;c 
proteins 
à 
bleeding 
1 
6 
Thrombosis 
Fibrin 
Platelet 
WWW. 
Coumadin.com
DIC 
• Acute 
DIC 
– Develops 
acutely 
when 
sudden 
exposure 
of 
blood 
to 
procoagulants 
(TF) 
à 
genera8on 
of 
intravascular 
coagula8on 
– Compensatory 
hemosta8c 
mechanisms 
overwhelmed 
à 
severe 
consump8ve 
coagulopathy 
à 
hemorrhage 
– Organ 
failure 
frequently 
occurs 
• Chronic 
DIC 
– Compensated 
state 
– Blood 
is 
con8nuously 
or 
intermiNently 
exposed 
to 
small 
amounts 
of 
TF 
– Liver 
and 
BM 
compensate 
with 
coagula8on 
factors 
and 
platelets 
– LiNle 
obvious 
clinical 
or 
laboratory 
indica;on 
of 
DIC 
– More 
frequently 
observed 
in 
solid 
tumors 
and 
large 
aor8c 
aneurysms
Sequence 
of 
Events 
in 
DIC 
• Ac5va5on 
of 
coagula8on 
is 
always 
the 
ini3a3ng 
event 
3 
Systemic 
ac3va3on 
of 
coagula3on 
Deple8on 
of 
coagula8on 
factors 
and 
platelets 
Intravascular 
deposi8on 
of 
fibrin 
Bleeding 
Thrombosis: 
small 
and 
midsize 
vessels 
DEATH 
Organ 
failure
DIC 
Thrombosis 
with 
Fibrinolysis 
1. Brief 
period 
of 
hypercoagulability 
2. Coagula8on 
cascade 
ini8a8on 
à 
causing 
widespread 
fibrin 
forma8on 
3. Microthrombi 
are 
deposited 
throughout 
the 
microcircula8on 
4. Fibrin 
deposits 
in 
8ssue 
à 
hypoxia, 
ischemia, 
necrosis, 
organ 
failure 
Bleeding 
with 
Fibrinolysis 
1. Period 
of 
hypocoagulability 
(the 
hemorrhagic 
phase) 
2. Ac8va8on 
of 
the 
complement 
system 
3. Genera8on 
of 
FDP’s 
à 
enhance 
bleeding 
by 
interfering 
with 
a. Platelet 
aggrega8on 
b. Fibrin 
polymeriza8on 
c. Thrombin 
ac8vity 
4. Leads 
to 
hemorrhage
Pathophysiology 
of 
DIC 
• Involves 
4 
physiologic 
processes 
1. Ac8va8on 
of 
Blood 
Coagula8on 
2. Suppression 
of 
Physiologic 
An8coagulant 
Pathways 
3. Impaired 
Fibrinolysis 
4. Prolifera8on 
of 
pro-­‐inflammatory 
cytokines
Pathogenesis 
of 
DIC 
1. Ac5va5on 
of 
coagula5on 
cascade 
– TF 
expression 
at 
the 
injury 
site, 
monocytes 
– Thrombin 
genera8on 
via 
ac8va8on 
of 
the 
coagula8on 
factors 
• Ac8vates 
V, 
VIII, 
XI 
à 
con8nued 
ac8va8on 
of 
coagula8on 
cascade 
• Converts 
fibrinogen 
à 
fibrin 
monomers 
• Ac8vates 
FXIII 
à 
cross-­‐linking 
of 
fibrin 
monomers 
6 
hNp://www.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/pavithra/fix/images/coagula8on%20cascade_pavithra_rallapalli.jpg
Pathogenesis 
of 
DIC 
1. Thrombin 
genera8on 
is 
normally 
localized 
to 
the 
site 
of 
injury 
à 
ac8va8on 
of 
platelets 
and 
deposi8on 
of 
cross-­‐linked 
fibrin 
à 
hemosta8c 
plug 
2. Thrombin 
genera8on 
is 
8ghtly 
regulated 
by 
the 
naturally 
occurring 
an8coagulants 
3. These 
mechanisms 
are 
overwhelmed 
due 
to 
increased 
produc8on 
of 
thrombin 
4. Thrombin 
circulates 
and 
leads 
to 
DIC 
5. Widespread 
deposi8on 
of 
fibrin 
results 
in 
a. Tissue 
ischemia 
b. Consump8on 
of 
platelets, 
fibrinogen, 
FII, 
FV 
and 
FVIII 
à 
bleeding 
7 
www.nature.com/bmt/journal/v41/n8/fig_tab/1705990f2.html
Pathogenesis 
of 
DIC 
2. 
Suppression 
of 
Physiologic 
An5coagulant 
Pathways 
– Down-­‐regula5on 
of 
the 
naturally 
occurring 
inhibitors 
• TFPI 
decreased 
à 
modulates 
the 
extrinsic 
tenase 
complex 
(TF:VIIa:X) 
• AT 
decreased 
à 
interacts 
with 
glycosaminoglycans 
on 
endothelial 
surface 
à 
inhibi8on 
of 
IIa, 
IXa, 
Xa 
– Exhausted 
due 
to 
con8nuous 
thrombin 
genera8on 
– Reduc;on 
in 
glycosaminoglycans 
occurs 
due 
to 
pro-­‐inflammatory 
cytokines 
• PC/PS 
decreased 
à 
decreased 
aPC 
à 
can’t 
inhibit 
FVa 
and 
FVIIIa 
• C4BBP 
increased 
à 
decrease 
in 
free 
PS 
• TM 
à 
thrombin 
specific 
receptor 
on 
endothelial 
surface 
– Converts 
thrombin 
from 
procoagulant 
to 
an;coagulant 
– TM 
à 
prevents 
thrombin 
from 
ac8va8ng 
platelets 
hNp://physrev.physiology.org/content/93/3/1247
Pathophysiology 
of 
DIC 
3. 
Cytokine 
genera5on 
– Cytokines 
promote 
increase 
in 
TF 
expression 
a. Increased 
Thrombin 
genera8on 
b. Suppression 
of 
fibrinolysis 
• Cytokines 
– IL-­‐1 
and 
TNF-­‐ 
α 
à 
up-­‐regulate 
TF 
and 
down-­‐regulate 
TM 
– IL-­‐6, 
and 
IL-­‐10 
increase 
ac8va8on 
of 
coagula8on 
– Monocytes 
secrete 
IL-­‐1 
and 
TNF 
à 
modula8on 
of 
procoagulant 
ac8vity 
– Endotoxin 
increases 
monocyte 
produc8on 
of 
TF 
• Normal 
individuals: 
PC 
has 
an5-­‐inflammatory 
effect 
à 
inhibits 
endotoxin-­‐ 
induced 
produc8on 
of 
these 
cytokines 
• DIC: 
Decrease 
in 
PC 
à 
decreased 
regula8on 
of 
these 
cytokines 
• Interac8on 
between 
inflamma8on 
and 
coagula8on 
9 
Inflammation 
Coagula5on 
Tips 
balance 
in 
favor 
of 
procoagulant 
state
Pathogenesis 
of 
DIC 
10
Pathogenesis 
of 
DIC 
11
Pathophysiology 
of 
DIC 
4. 
Impaired 
fibrinolysis 
– 
rela8vely 
suppressed 
at 
maximal 
ac8va8on 
of 
coagula8on 
due 
to 
elevated 
levels 
of 
PAI-­‐1 
• Plasmin 
– Produced 
from 
Plasminogen 
by 
Tissue 
Plasminogen 
ac8vator 
(tPA) 
– Degrades 
fibrin/fibrinogen, 
FV, 
VIII, 
IX, 
XI, 
XII 
– Ac8vity 
is 
inhibited 
by 
an3plasmin 
• An8plasmin 
– Inac8vates 
plasmin 
rapidly 
• Acts 
slowly 
on 
plasmin 
sequestered 
in 
the 
fibrin 
clot 
• Plasminogen 
ac8vator 
inhibitor-­‐1 
(PAI-­‐1) 
– Inhibits 
the 
func5on 
of 
tPA 
www.cancernetwork.com/oncology-­‐journal/thromboembolism-­‐and-­‐ble.
Laboratory 
Findings 
in 
DIC 
• Diagnosis 
– No 
test 
“says” 
DIC 
– You 
need 
a 
(screening 
test) 
+ 
(one 
test 
indica;ve 
of 
thrombin 
genera;on) 
• 3 
groups 
of 
tests 
1. Screening 
assays 
to 
test 
for 
severity 
• PT, 
aPTT, 
PLT 
à 
demonstrate 
consump3ve 
process 
2. Thrombin 
genera8on 
A. D-­‐dimer 
– D-­‐dimer 
à 
proteoly8c 
by 
product 
of 
plasmin 
degrada8on 
of 
cross-­‐linked 
fibrin 
monomers 
1. Fibrinogen 
to 
fibrin 
conversion 
2. Cross-­‐linking 
by 
FXIII 
3. Degrada8on 
by 
plasmin 
– FDP 
does 
not 
dis8nguish 
between 
plasmin 
degrada8on 
of 
fibrin 
and 
fibrinogen 
B. Fibrin 
monomer 
3. Plasmin 
genera8on 
13 
D-­‐Dimer 
reflects 
that 
these 
3 
processes 
have 
occurred
Laboratory 
Tests 
Used 
in 
DIC 
• D-­‐dimer* 
• An3thrombin 
III* 
• F. 
1+2* 
• Fibrinopep8de 
A* 
• Fibrin 
Degrada3on 
Products 
• Platelet 
count 
• Thrombin-­‐an3thrombin 
complex 
• Thrombin 
8me 
• Fibrinogen 
• Prothrombin 
3me* 
• Ac3vated 
PTT 
• Rep8lase 
8me 
• Coagula8on 
factor 
levels 
*Most 
reliable 
test 
NEJM 
346: 
No. 
1, 
59
Laboratory 
Diagnosis 
in 
DIC 
• Thrombocytopenia 
– Platelet 
count 
<100,000 
or 
rapidly 
declining 
• Prolonged 
clorng 
8mes 
(PT, 
aPTT) 
• Presence 
of 
D-­‐Dimer/FDP 
• Low 
levels 
of 
coagula8on 
inhibitors 
– AT 
III, 
protein 
C, 
S 
• Low 
levels 
of 
coagula8on 
factors 
– Factors 
II, 
V, 
VII, 
IX, 
X, 
XI, 
XIII 
• FVIII 
levels 
are 
osen 
elevated 
• Fibrinogen 
levels 
not 
useful 
diagnos8cally 
Acute 
Phase 
Proteins!!!
Clinical 
Manifesta8ons 
of 
DIC 
ORGAN 
ISCHEMIC 
HEMOR. 
Skin 
Pur. 
Fulminans 
Gangrene 
Acral 
cyanosis 
Petechiae 
Echymosis 
Oozing 
CNS 
Delirium/Coma 
Infarcts 
Intracranial 
bleeding 
Renal 
Oliguria/Azotemia 
Cortical 
Necrosis 
Hematuria 
Cardiovascular 
Myocardial 
Dysfxn 
Pulmonary 
Dyspnea/Hypoxia 
Infarct 
Hemorrhagic 
lung 
GI 
Endocrine 
Ulcers, 
Infarcts 
Adrenal 
infarcts 
Massive 
hemorrhage. 
Ischemic 
Findings 
are 
earliest! 
Bleeding 
is 
the 
most 
obvious 
clinical 
finding
apply. 
Purpura 
Fulminans
Laboratory 
Findings 
in 
DIC 
Acute 
DIC 
Ø Elevated 
PT, 
aPTT, 
FDP, 
DD 
Ø Decreased 
Fib, 
Plt 
Ct, 
AT 
C 
hronic 
DIC 
Ø PT, 
aPTT 
are 
normal 
to 
increased 
– May 
be 
normal 
due 
to 
compensatory 
mechanism 
Ø Elevated 
FDP, 
DD 
18 
Ø Consumable 
factors 
– 
Fib, 
II, 
V, 
VIII 
Ø VIII 
and 
Fib 
– 
acute 
phase 
reactants 
– 
may 
be 
elevated 
in 
early 
DIC 
Ø AT 
levels 
decrease 
as 
AT 
binds 
to 
thrombin 
to 
inac8vate 
it 
Ø FDPs 
are 
diges8on 
products 
for 
either 
fibrinogen 
or 
fibrin 
Ø DD 
– 
demonstrates 
a 
diges8on 
product 
of 
crosslinked 
fibrin 
–only 
specific 
for 
ongoing 
clot 
forma8on 
–a 
sensi5ve 
test 
with 
a 
very 
high 
nega8ve 
predictability 
Ø No 
test 
is 
SPECIFIC 
for 
DIC
DIC 
19
Treatment 
of 
DIC 
• Differen8al 
Diagnosis 
– Severe 
liver 
failure 
– Vitamin 
K 
deficiency 
– Liver 
disease 
– Thrombo8c 
thrombocytopenic 
purpura 
– Congenital 
abnormali8es 
of 
fibrinogen 
– HELLP 
syndrome 
• No 
specific 
treatments 
– 
suppor8ve 
therapy 
– Plasma 
and 
platelet 
subs8tu8on 
therapy 
– An8coagulants 
– Physiologic 
coagula8on 
inhibitors 
• Fresh 
frozen 
plasma(FFP):-­‐-­‐ 
provides 
clorng 
factors, 
fibrinogen, 
inhibitors, 
and 
platelets 
in 
balanced 
amounts 
• Platelets—add 
fuel 
to 
the 
fire 
• Heparin 
-­‐-­‐ 
Turns 
off 
coagula8on, 
but 
you 
already 
have 
a 
bleeding 
pa8ent—may 
be 
contraindicated—also 
requires 
AT 
in 
order 
to 
be 
effec8ve 
• Inhibitor 
therapy 
– AT—major 
inhibitor 
of 
the 
coagula8on 
cascade 
– PC 
concentrate—inhibits 
Va 
and 
VIIIa—decreases 
morbidity 
due 
to 
sepsis 
– TFPI—inhibits 
thrombin 
genera8on 
via 
extrinsic 
pathway 
• Stop 
the 
triggering 
process 
– The 
only 
proven 
treatment! 
Rule 
out 
20
Acute 
vs 
Chronic 
DIC 
Acute 
DIC 
• Diagnosis 
of 
severe, 
acute 
• Prolonga8on 
of 
PT, 
aPTT, 
TT 
– Due 
to 
consump5on 
and 
inhibi5on 
of 
clorng 
factors 
• Thrombocytopenia 
– Due 
to 
BM 
unable 
to 
compensate 
• FDP’s 
+ 
D-­‐Dimer 
– Increased 
due 
to 
secondary 
fibrinolysis 
• Schistocytes 
may 
be 
seen 
in 
the 
peripheral 
blood 
smear 
– Neither 
sensi8ve 
nor 
specific 
for 
DIC 
Chronic 
DIC 
• Chronic 
or 
“compensated” 
form 
• Highly 
variable 
paNerns 
of 
abnormali8es 
in 
DIC 
“screening” 
tests 
for 
DIC 
• Increased 
FDPs 
+ 
D-­‐Dimer 
• Prolonged 
PT 
• Generally 
more 
sensi;ve 
measures 
than 
abnormali8es 
of 
the 
aPTT 
and 
PLTCT 
• Overcompensated 
(increased) 
synthesis 
of 
1. Consumed 
clorng 
factors 
à 
normaliza8on 
of 
aPTT 
2. Platelets 
à 
thrombocytosis 
3. Elevated 
levels 
of 
FDPs 
à 
result 
from 
2o 
fibrinolysis
Acute 
versus 
Chronic 
DIC
DIC 
versus 
Primary 
Fibrinolysis 
Secondary 
fibrinolysis: 
increased 
fibrinolysis 
due 
to 
thrombin 
genera5on 
– 
s8mulates 
EC’s 
to 
produce 
tPA 
à 
an 
increase 
in 
fibrinolysis 
in 
DIC 
Primary 
fibrinolysis: 
increased 
fibrinolysis 
independent 
of 
thrombin 
genera8on
APL 
• Life 
threatening 
coagulopathy 
– 
requires 
prompt 
diagnosis 
and 
recogni8on 
of 
coagula8on 
defect 
• Hemorrhage 
– 
major 
cause 
of 
“early” 
death 
1. Caused 
directly/indirectly 
by 
the 
leukemic 
cells 
2. Compounded 
by 
failure 
of 
platelet 
produc;on 
– 
BM 
invasion 
by 
leukemic 
cells 
• Predominant 
feature 
at 
presenta8on 
is 
hyperfibrinolysis 
• Paradigm 
of 
DIC 
– Meningococcal 
sepsis 
• Ac8va8on 
of 
IL-­‐1 
and 
TNF-­‐α 
à 
up-­‐regula8on 
of 
TF 
expression 
on 
monocytes 
and 
endothelial 
cells 
– Ac8va8on 
of 
coagula8on 
cascade 
à 
widespread 
microvascular 
thrombosis 
Consump8on 
of 
coagula8on 
factors 
+ 
platelets 
+ 
natural 
an8coagulants 
– Increased 
thrombin 
produc8on 
» S8mula8on 
of 
tPA 
from 
the 
endothelial 
cells 
à 
further 
complicates 
risk 
of 
bleeding 
• 2o 
fibrinolysis
APL 
• Cancer 
procoagulant 
protease 
– CP 
– 
protease 
that 
directly 
ac8vates 
FX 
à 
thrombin 
genera8on 
– Present 
in 
serum 
and 
8ssues 
of 
many 
pa8ents 
with 
various 
types 
of 
malignancies 
– Highest 
levels 
seen 
in 
APL 
cells 
• Other 
proteases 
– Elastases 
– 
granulocy8c 
proteases 
• Cleave 
fibrinogen 
– Elastase-­‐degraded 
fibrinogen 
produces 
a 
different 
paNern 
of 
FDP 
than 
plasmin 
cleavage 
• Degrade 
fibrinoly8c 
inhibitors 
• Increased 
in 
DIC 
• Inflammatory 
cytokines 
– IL-­‐1 
and 
TNF-­‐α 
à 
ac8va8on 
of 
monocyte 
and 
endothelial 
cells 
à 
up-­‐regulate 
TF 
/ 
down-­‐regulate 
TM 
– Causes 
switch 
from 
normal 
an8coagulant 
state 
to 
prothrombo8c 
state
Fibrinolysis 
in 
APL 
• Normal 
in 
cells 
– Fibrinolysis 
à 
breakdown 
of 
fibrin 
clots 
– Thrombin 
converts 
fibrinogen 
to 
fibrin 
monomers 
– FXIIIa 
crosslinks 
fibrin 
monomers 
– EC’s 
release 
tPA 
which 
converts 
plasminogen 
to 
plasmin 
– Plasmin 
breaks 
the 
fibrin 
into 
D-­‐Dimer 
fragments
Fibrinoly8c 
Ac8va8on 
in 
APL 
• Annexin 
A2 
– Cell 
surface 
receptor 
for 
tPA 
and 
plasminogen 
– Found 
on 
endothelial 
cells, 
monocytes 
and 
some 
tumor 
cells 
• Overexpressed 
on 
APL 
cells 
– Serves 
as 
a 
co-­‐factor 
for 
tPA 
à 
promo5ng 
plasmin 
genera5on 
– [α2-­‐AP]– 
inhibitor 
of 
fibrinolysis 
is 
depleted 
• At 
presenta;on 
in 
APL 
– Leukemic 
cell 
overexpresses 
[TF 
+ 
Annexin 
A2] 
à 
low 
grade 
DIC 
– Hyperfibrinoly;c 
state 
due 
to 
• Low 
fibrinogen 
• Low 
plasminogen 
• Low 
α2-­‐AP 
• Increased 
FDP 
and 
D-­‐Dimer 
levels 
– Fibrinolysis 
usually 
predominates 
à 
increased 
risk 
of 
bleeding 
Bri8sh 
Journal 
of 
Haematology, 
156, 
24-­‐36
Coagulopathy 
in 
APL 
versus 
DIC 
• Microvascular 
thrombosis 
in 
APL 
is 
uncommon 
– Suggests 
fibrin 
forma;on 
is 
kept 
in 
check 
due 
to 
increased 
fibrinoly;c 
ac;va;on 
• Decreased 
PLTCT 
– Explained 
by 
BM 
invasion 
rather 
than 
consump;on 
• Physiologic 
levels 
of 
naturally 
occurring 
an8coagulants 
(AT, 
PC, 
PS) 
are 
beNer 
“preserved” 
– Not 
being 
consumed 
trying 
to 
inhibit 
ac;va;on 
of 
coagula;on 
cascade 
à 
LESS 
ac;va;on 
than 
in 
DIC 
• Fibrinogen 
levels 
are 
lower 
(especially 
in 
2o 
fibrinolysis) 
• D-­‐Dimer 
levels 
are 
higher 
• FV 
levels 
are 
lower 
• Main 
driving 
force 
of 
bleeding 
in 
APL 
is 
NOT 
aberrant 
TF 
expression 
but 
due 
to 
increased 
fibrinoly;c 
ac;va;on 
à 
hyperfibrinolysis 
In 
APL
Etiology of DIC in Sepsis 
Zeerleder, S. et al. Chest 2005;128:2864-2875
31
32

Lecture 7, fall 2014

  • 1.
    Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy • Acquired pathologic syndrome arising from heterogenous group of underlying medical condi8ons • Event that can accompany various disease processes • Leads to an imbalance in coagula8on characterized by 1. Consump8on of coagula8on factors and platelets 2. Proteoly8c degrada8on of fibrin • Variable clinical expression – Laboratory manifesta8ons alone, or in combina8on with – Hemorrhagic and thrombo8c complica8ons • Unregulated and excessive genera3on of thrombin and plasmin – Two caveats: 1. Excess thrombin with reduced plasmin expression à microvascular fibrin deposi;on and thrombosis à ischemic necrosis and organ dysfunc;on 2. Excess thrombin with vigorous secondary fibrinolysis Red Blood Cell à increased consump;on of the hemosta;c proteins à bleeding 1 6 Thrombosis Fibrin Platelet WWW. Coumadin.com
  • 2.
    DIC • Acute DIC – Develops acutely when sudden exposure of blood to procoagulants (TF) à genera8on of intravascular coagula8on – Compensatory hemosta8c mechanisms overwhelmed à severe consump8ve coagulopathy à hemorrhage – Organ failure frequently occurs • Chronic DIC – Compensated state – Blood is con8nuously or intermiNently exposed to small amounts of TF – Liver and BM compensate with coagula8on factors and platelets – LiNle obvious clinical or laboratory indica;on of DIC – More frequently observed in solid tumors and large aor8c aneurysms
  • 3.
    Sequence of Events in DIC • Ac5va5on of coagula8on is always the ini3a3ng event 3 Systemic ac3va3on of coagula3on Deple8on of coagula8on factors and platelets Intravascular deposi8on of fibrin Bleeding Thrombosis: small and midsize vessels DEATH Organ failure
  • 4.
    DIC Thrombosis with Fibrinolysis 1. Brief period of hypercoagulability 2. Coagula8on cascade ini8a8on à causing widespread fibrin forma8on 3. Microthrombi are deposited throughout the microcircula8on 4. Fibrin deposits in 8ssue à hypoxia, ischemia, necrosis, organ failure Bleeding with Fibrinolysis 1. Period of hypocoagulability (the hemorrhagic phase) 2. Ac8va8on of the complement system 3. Genera8on of FDP’s à enhance bleeding by interfering with a. Platelet aggrega8on b. Fibrin polymeriza8on c. Thrombin ac8vity 4. Leads to hemorrhage
  • 5.
    Pathophysiology of DIC • Involves 4 physiologic processes 1. Ac8va8on of Blood Coagula8on 2. Suppression of Physiologic An8coagulant Pathways 3. Impaired Fibrinolysis 4. Prolifera8on of pro-­‐inflammatory cytokines
  • 6.
    Pathogenesis of DIC 1. Ac5va5on of coagula5on cascade – TF expression at the injury site, monocytes – Thrombin genera8on via ac8va8on of the coagula8on factors • Ac8vates V, VIII, XI à con8nued ac8va8on of coagula8on cascade • Converts fibrinogen à fibrin monomers • Ac8vates FXIII à cross-­‐linking of fibrin monomers 6 hNp://www.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/pavithra/fix/images/coagula8on%20cascade_pavithra_rallapalli.jpg
  • 7.
    Pathogenesis of DIC 1. Thrombin genera8on is normally localized to the site of injury à ac8va8on of platelets and deposi8on of cross-­‐linked fibrin à hemosta8c plug 2. Thrombin genera8on is 8ghtly regulated by the naturally occurring an8coagulants 3. These mechanisms are overwhelmed due to increased produc8on of thrombin 4. Thrombin circulates and leads to DIC 5. Widespread deposi8on of fibrin results in a. Tissue ischemia b. Consump8on of platelets, fibrinogen, FII, FV and FVIII à bleeding 7 www.nature.com/bmt/journal/v41/n8/fig_tab/1705990f2.html
  • 8.
    Pathogenesis of DIC 2. Suppression of Physiologic An5coagulant Pathways – Down-­‐regula5on of the naturally occurring inhibitors • TFPI decreased à modulates the extrinsic tenase complex (TF:VIIa:X) • AT decreased à interacts with glycosaminoglycans on endothelial surface à inhibi8on of IIa, IXa, Xa – Exhausted due to con8nuous thrombin genera8on – Reduc;on in glycosaminoglycans occurs due to pro-­‐inflammatory cytokines • PC/PS decreased à decreased aPC à can’t inhibit FVa and FVIIIa • C4BBP increased à decrease in free PS • TM à thrombin specific receptor on endothelial surface – Converts thrombin from procoagulant to an;coagulant – TM à prevents thrombin from ac8va8ng platelets hNp://physrev.physiology.org/content/93/3/1247
  • 9.
    Pathophysiology of DIC 3. Cytokine genera5on – Cytokines promote increase in TF expression a. Increased Thrombin genera8on b. Suppression of fibrinolysis • Cytokines – IL-­‐1 and TNF-­‐ α à up-­‐regulate TF and down-­‐regulate TM – IL-­‐6, and IL-­‐10 increase ac8va8on of coagula8on – Monocytes secrete IL-­‐1 and TNF à modula8on of procoagulant ac8vity – Endotoxin increases monocyte produc8on of TF • Normal individuals: PC has an5-­‐inflammatory effect à inhibits endotoxin-­‐ induced produc8on of these cytokines • DIC: Decrease in PC à decreased regula8on of these cytokines • Interac8on between inflamma8on and coagula8on 9 Inflammation Coagula5on Tips balance in favor of procoagulant state
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Pathophysiology of DIC 4. Impaired fibrinolysis – rela8vely suppressed at maximal ac8va8on of coagula8on due to elevated levels of PAI-­‐1 • Plasmin – Produced from Plasminogen by Tissue Plasminogen ac8vator (tPA) – Degrades fibrin/fibrinogen, FV, VIII, IX, XI, XII – Ac8vity is inhibited by an3plasmin • An8plasmin – Inac8vates plasmin rapidly • Acts slowly on plasmin sequestered in the fibrin clot • Plasminogen ac8vator inhibitor-­‐1 (PAI-­‐1) – Inhibits the func5on of tPA www.cancernetwork.com/oncology-­‐journal/thromboembolism-­‐and-­‐ble.
  • 13.
    Laboratory Findings in DIC • Diagnosis – No test “says” DIC – You need a (screening test) + (one test indica;ve of thrombin genera;on) • 3 groups of tests 1. Screening assays to test for severity • PT, aPTT, PLT à demonstrate consump3ve process 2. Thrombin genera8on A. D-­‐dimer – D-­‐dimer à proteoly8c by product of plasmin degrada8on of cross-­‐linked fibrin monomers 1. Fibrinogen to fibrin conversion 2. Cross-­‐linking by FXIII 3. Degrada8on by plasmin – FDP does not dis8nguish between plasmin degrada8on of fibrin and fibrinogen B. Fibrin monomer 3. Plasmin genera8on 13 D-­‐Dimer reflects that these 3 processes have occurred
  • 14.
    Laboratory Tests Used in DIC • D-­‐dimer* • An3thrombin III* • F. 1+2* • Fibrinopep8de A* • Fibrin Degrada3on Products • Platelet count • Thrombin-­‐an3thrombin complex • Thrombin 8me • Fibrinogen • Prothrombin 3me* • Ac3vated PTT • Rep8lase 8me • Coagula8on factor levels *Most reliable test NEJM 346: No. 1, 59
  • 15.
    Laboratory Diagnosis in DIC • Thrombocytopenia – Platelet count <100,000 or rapidly declining • Prolonged clorng 8mes (PT, aPTT) • Presence of D-­‐Dimer/FDP • Low levels of coagula8on inhibitors – AT III, protein C, S • Low levels of coagula8on factors – Factors II, V, VII, IX, X, XI, XIII • FVIII levels are osen elevated • Fibrinogen levels not useful diagnos8cally Acute Phase Proteins!!!
  • 16.
    Clinical Manifesta8ons of DIC ORGAN ISCHEMIC HEMOR. Skin Pur. Fulminans Gangrene Acral cyanosis Petechiae Echymosis Oozing CNS Delirium/Coma Infarcts Intracranial bleeding Renal Oliguria/Azotemia Cortical Necrosis Hematuria Cardiovascular Myocardial Dysfxn Pulmonary Dyspnea/Hypoxia Infarct Hemorrhagic lung GI Endocrine Ulcers, Infarcts Adrenal infarcts Massive hemorrhage. Ischemic Findings are earliest! Bleeding is the most obvious clinical finding
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Laboratory Findings in DIC Acute DIC Ø Elevated PT, aPTT, FDP, DD Ø Decreased Fib, Plt Ct, AT C hronic DIC Ø PT, aPTT are normal to increased – May be normal due to compensatory mechanism Ø Elevated FDP, DD 18 Ø Consumable factors – Fib, II, V, VIII Ø VIII and Fib – acute phase reactants – may be elevated in early DIC Ø AT levels decrease as AT binds to thrombin to inac8vate it Ø FDPs are diges8on products for either fibrinogen or fibrin Ø DD – demonstrates a diges8on product of crosslinked fibrin –only specific for ongoing clot forma8on –a sensi5ve test with a very high nega8ve predictability Ø No test is SPECIFIC for DIC
  • 19.
  • 20.
    Treatment of DIC • Differen8al Diagnosis – Severe liver failure – Vitamin K deficiency – Liver disease – Thrombo8c thrombocytopenic purpura – Congenital abnormali8es of fibrinogen – HELLP syndrome • No specific treatments – suppor8ve therapy – Plasma and platelet subs8tu8on therapy – An8coagulants – Physiologic coagula8on inhibitors • Fresh frozen plasma(FFP):-­‐-­‐ provides clorng factors, fibrinogen, inhibitors, and platelets in balanced amounts • Platelets—add fuel to the fire • Heparin -­‐-­‐ Turns off coagula8on, but you already have a bleeding pa8ent—may be contraindicated—also requires AT in order to be effec8ve • Inhibitor therapy – AT—major inhibitor of the coagula8on cascade – PC concentrate—inhibits Va and VIIIa—decreases morbidity due to sepsis – TFPI—inhibits thrombin genera8on via extrinsic pathway • Stop the triggering process – The only proven treatment! Rule out 20
  • 21.
    Acute vs Chronic DIC Acute DIC • Diagnosis of severe, acute • Prolonga8on of PT, aPTT, TT – Due to consump5on and inhibi5on of clorng factors • Thrombocytopenia – Due to BM unable to compensate • FDP’s + D-­‐Dimer – Increased due to secondary fibrinolysis • Schistocytes may be seen in the peripheral blood smear – Neither sensi8ve nor specific for DIC Chronic DIC • Chronic or “compensated” form • Highly variable paNerns of abnormali8es in DIC “screening” tests for DIC • Increased FDPs + D-­‐Dimer • Prolonged PT • Generally more sensi;ve measures than abnormali8es of the aPTT and PLTCT • Overcompensated (increased) synthesis of 1. Consumed clorng factors à normaliza8on of aPTT 2. Platelets à thrombocytosis 3. Elevated levels of FDPs à result from 2o fibrinolysis
  • 22.
  • 23.
    DIC versus Primary Fibrinolysis Secondary fibrinolysis: increased fibrinolysis due to thrombin genera5on – s8mulates EC’s to produce tPA à an increase in fibrinolysis in DIC Primary fibrinolysis: increased fibrinolysis independent of thrombin genera8on
  • 24.
    APL • Life threatening coagulopathy – requires prompt diagnosis and recogni8on of coagula8on defect • Hemorrhage – major cause of “early” death 1. Caused directly/indirectly by the leukemic cells 2. Compounded by failure of platelet produc;on – BM invasion by leukemic cells • Predominant feature at presenta8on is hyperfibrinolysis • Paradigm of DIC – Meningococcal sepsis • Ac8va8on of IL-­‐1 and TNF-­‐α à up-­‐regula8on of TF expression on monocytes and endothelial cells – Ac8va8on of coagula8on cascade à widespread microvascular thrombosis Consump8on of coagula8on factors + platelets + natural an8coagulants – Increased thrombin produc8on » S8mula8on of tPA from the endothelial cells à further complicates risk of bleeding • 2o fibrinolysis
  • 26.
    APL • Cancer procoagulant protease – CP – protease that directly ac8vates FX à thrombin genera8on – Present in serum and 8ssues of many pa8ents with various types of malignancies – Highest levels seen in APL cells • Other proteases – Elastases – granulocy8c proteases • Cleave fibrinogen – Elastase-­‐degraded fibrinogen produces a different paNern of FDP than plasmin cleavage • Degrade fibrinoly8c inhibitors • Increased in DIC • Inflammatory cytokines – IL-­‐1 and TNF-­‐α à ac8va8on of monocyte and endothelial cells à up-­‐regulate TF / down-­‐regulate TM – Causes switch from normal an8coagulant state to prothrombo8c state
  • 27.
    Fibrinolysis in APL • Normal in cells – Fibrinolysis à breakdown of fibrin clots – Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin monomers – FXIIIa crosslinks fibrin monomers – EC’s release tPA which converts plasminogen to plasmin – Plasmin breaks the fibrin into D-­‐Dimer fragments
  • 28.
    Fibrinoly8c Ac8va8on in APL • Annexin A2 – Cell surface receptor for tPA and plasminogen – Found on endothelial cells, monocytes and some tumor cells • Overexpressed on APL cells – Serves as a co-­‐factor for tPA à promo5ng plasmin genera5on – [α2-­‐AP]– inhibitor of fibrinolysis is depleted • At presenta;on in APL – Leukemic cell overexpresses [TF + Annexin A2] à low grade DIC – Hyperfibrinoly;c state due to • Low fibrinogen • Low plasminogen • Low α2-­‐AP • Increased FDP and D-­‐Dimer levels – Fibrinolysis usually predominates à increased risk of bleeding Bri8sh Journal of Haematology, 156, 24-­‐36
  • 29.
    Coagulopathy in APL versus DIC • Microvascular thrombosis in APL is uncommon – Suggests fibrin forma;on is kept in check due to increased fibrinoly;c ac;va;on • Decreased PLTCT – Explained by BM invasion rather than consump;on • Physiologic levels of naturally occurring an8coagulants (AT, PC, PS) are beNer “preserved” – Not being consumed trying to inhibit ac;va;on of coagula;on cascade à LESS ac;va;on than in DIC • Fibrinogen levels are lower (especially in 2o fibrinolysis) • D-­‐Dimer levels are higher • FV levels are lower • Main driving force of bleeding in APL is NOT aberrant TF expression but due to increased fibrinoly;c ac;va;on à hyperfibrinolysis In APL
  • 30.
    Etiology of DICin Sepsis Zeerleder, S. et al. Chest 2005;128:2864-2875
  • 31.
  • 32.