Fig. 1

Algorithm for applying the DIC diagnostic criteria. Suspicion of DIC (※1): When there is any underlying disease of DIC (Table 2), an unexplained abnormal laboratory value such as a decreased platelet count, decreased fibrinogen or elevated FDP, or a thrombotic disease such as venous thromboembolism is evident. The new criteria cannot be applied to obstetric or newborn DIC, and for that reason this is shown as the first step in the algorithm. Hematopoietic disorder (※2): A positive (+) judgment is made when it is determined that there is some cause besides DIC for a decreased platelet count, such as bone marrow suppression, bone marrow failure, or platelet destruction or aggregation in the peripheral circulation. For the hematopoietic disorder type, scoring for the platelet count is not performed. Hematopoietic tumors in a state of remission are judged as negative (−). In the absence of a hematopoietic disorder, the possibility of an infection is examined. If an infection is present, the diagnostic criteria for the infectious type are used. Scoring for fibrinogen is not performed for the infectious type. If there is neither a hematopoietic disorder nor an infection, the diagnostic criteria for the basic type are used. When an underlying disease cannot be specified (or there are many), and neither “hematopoietic disorder type” nor “infectious type” applies, the diagnostic criteria for the basic type are used. For example, if an infection accompanies a solid cancer, such that the underlying disease cannot be specified, the diagnostic criteria for the basic type are used