Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay
Published on: September 9, 2012
[Disseminated intravascular coagulation: clinical and biological diagnosis]
Aziz Touaoussa1, Hind El Youssi1, Imane El Hassani1
1Laboratoire central d'analyses médicales, Service d'hématologie, CHU Hassan II, Fès, Maroc.
Insights
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a complex syndrome with variable presentation. Diagnostic scores, like the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) score, aid in identifying DIC, especially in early stages.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Pathophysiology
- Clinical diagnostics
Context:
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) presents complex pathophysiological mechanisms.
- DIC's clinical and biological manifestations are highly variable.
- Diagnosing overt and non-overt DIC is challenging due to non-specific biological markers.
Purpose:
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC).
- To emphasize the need for diagnostic tools that combine multiple parameters.
- To introduce scoring systems for DIC diagnosis.
Summary:
- DIC involves systemic blood coagulation activation with complex, variable mechanisms.
- Most biological markers for DIC are non-specific, complicating diagnosis.
- Diagnostic scoring systems, such as the ISTH score, are crucial for identifying DIC, particularly early stages.
Impact:
- Improved diagnostic accuracy for overt and non-overt DIC.
- Facilitates earlier treatment initiation, potentially improving patient prognosis.
- Standardizes DIC assessment using the widely adopted ISTH score.
Abstract:
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a syndrome characterized by the systemic activation of blood coagulation. Its pathophysiological mechanisms are complex and dependent on the underlying pathology, making the clinical and biological expression of quite variable DIC. Among the various biological parameters disrupted, most are not specific, and none of them allows in itself to make the diagnosis. All this does not facilitate the task of the practitioner for diagnosis of overt DIC, much less that of the non-overt DIC, early stage whose treatment would improve the prognosis. These considerations have led to develop scores, combining several parameters depending on their availability in daily practice, as well as their diagnostic relevance. Of all the scores, the ISTH (International society of thrombosis and hemostasis) remains the most used.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Disorders of Hemostasis
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which...

