DIC Score (ISTH)

ISTH DIC Score: Standardized diagnostic criteria for overt Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. Requires an underlying disorder associated with DIC.

Platelets (× 10³/µL)

D-dimer / FDP Increase

PT Prolongation (sec)

Fibrinogen (g/L)

Cumulative DIC Score

0

Non-Overt / No DIC

Score < 5. Suggest repeat labs in 24 hours if clinical condition worsens.

Guidelines & Evidence

Verified

Last Review: 2026-07-17

When to Use

Clinically suspected Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) in patients with an underlying disorder known to be associated with DIC (e.g., sepsis, trauma, malignancy, obstetric complications).

To objectively verify the presence of overt (decompensated) DIC.

Monitoring disease progression and response to treatment in critical illness.

Patient Population

Applicable only to patients who have an "underlying disorder" associated with DIC. Without an established trigger, the score has no diagnostic utility.

When Not to Rely on This Score Alone

Non-overt (compensated) DIC — requires a separate scoring system for early phase detection.

Chronic DIC — often seen in malignancy/aneurysms; laboratory parameters may be normal or near-normal despite consumption.

Liver failure — low platelets and high PT may reflect impaired synthesis rather than consumptive coagulopathy (though they often co-exist).

How it Works

Scoring Variables

Variable	Criteria	Weight
Platelets (× 10³/µL)	> 100	0
	50 - 100	1
	< 50	2
PT Prolongation (sec)	< 3	0
	3 - 6	1
	> 6	2
Fibrinogen (g/L)	> 1.0	0
	< 1.0	1
Soluble Fibrin / D-dimer	No increase	0
	Moderate increase	2
	Strong increase	3

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026-07-17

In Recent Clinical News

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DIC Score (ISTH)

Platelets (× 10³/µL)

D-dimer / FDP Increase

PT Prolongation (sec)

Fibrinogen (g/L)

0

Non-Overt / No DIC

When to Use

When to Use

Patient Population

When Not to Rely on This Score Alone

How it Works

Scoring Variables

Clinical Pearls

The Fibrinogen Paradox

Overt DIC Threshold

The Evidence

Consensus Criteria

Towards definition, clinical and laboratory criteria, and a scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Origins & History

Development

In Recent Clinical News

DIC Score (ISTH)

Platelets (× 10³/µL)

D-dimer / FDP Increase

PT Prolongation (sec)

Fibrinogen (g/L)

0

Non-Overt / No DIC

When to Use

When to Use

Patient Population

When Not to Rely on This Score Alone

How it Works

Scoring Variables

Clinical Pearls

The Fibrinogen Paradox

Overt DIC Threshold

The Evidence

Consensus Criteria

Towards definition, clinical and laboratory criteria, and a scoring system for disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Origins & History

Development

In Recent Clinical News