The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) scoring system was developed by the Scientific and Standardization Committee on Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and published in 2001. It is makes use of laboratory tests available in almost all hospital laboratories.
| Parameter | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Fibrinogen (g/L) | >1 (0) <1 (1) | Overall sensitivity of low fibrinogen level reported to be about 30% |
| Prothrombin time (PT) (seconds) | <3 (0) 3-6 (+1) >6 (+2) | Elevated in 50%-60% of patients with DIC at some point during course of illness |
| Platelet count (109/L) | >100 (0) 50-100 (+1) <50 (+2) | Thrombocytopenia reported to occur in up to 98% of DIC cases |
| D-dimers or FDPs | No increase (0) Moderate increase (+2) Severe increase (+3) | Elevated FDPs and D-dimers are sensitive, but not specific for DIC |
See ISTH calculator
Original publication on the ISTH score can be found here.