Fig. 2

Circulating histone H3 levels are associated with coagulation failure. a Serum histone H3 levels within 24 h of ICU admission (day 1) were analyzed in septic patients with and without respiratory failure (n = 47 and n = 31, respectively), cardiovascular failure (n = 51 and n = 30, respectively), coagulation failure (n = 14 and n = 67, respectively), liver failure (n = 2 and n = 79, respectively), and renal failure (n = 19 and n = 62, respectively). Data for four patients were missing because serum samples were not obtained within 24 h of ICU admission. Differences between serum histone H3 levels in patients with and without each organ failure were analyzed by the Mann–Whitney U test. *p < 0.05 versus patients without organ failure. b Serum histone H3 levels within 24 h of ICU admission (day 1) were analyzed in septic patients. The septic patients were divided into six groups: those without DIC (n = 32), those with DIC score of 4 (n = 9), DIC score of 5 (n = 11), DIC score of 6 (n = 9), DIC score of 7 (n = 6), and DIC score of 8 (n = 7). Data for 11 patients were missing because serum samples were not obtained within 24 h of ICU admission or DIC scores were not available. Differences of serum histone H3 levels between patients with and without DIC were analyzed by the Shirley–Williams test. **p < 0.01 and *p < 0.05 versus patients without DIC