An abnormal activated partial thromboplastin time clotting waveform is associated with high mortality and a...

We studied the associations of a biphasic waveform identified in 61 consecutive patients by activated partial thromboplastin times performed with an MDA 180 coagulation analyzer (bioMérieux Inc., Durham, NC, USA). The patients were encountered in a wide range of locations, including medical and surgical services, emergency and outpatient departments, and intensive care unit. The patients encountered also had a variety of clinical diagnoses. Of the patients, 42.6% were dead on follow-up evaluation at 3 months, and 67.2% had a clinical condition known to predispose to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Sepsis was the most frequent associated condition and was present in 54% of the patients. Only 6 patients had overt DIC according to a standardized scoring system. However, D-dimer was elevated in 90% of patients, and antithrombin III and protein C levels decreased in 75.4% and 63.9%, respectively. The platelet count was decreased in 26%. Our results indicated that a biphasic waveform is associated with high mortality in general hospital patients and is frequently associated with sepsis. This waveform appears to be associated with a consumptive procoagulant state, which may represent early or nonovert DIC.