Communication from the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis on sepsis-induced coagulopathy in the management of sepsis

Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) in the management of sepsis

The mortality rate of sepsis remains high and further increases when complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Consequently, early detection and appropriate management of DIC will be helpful for the management of sepsis. Although overt DIC criteria are often used for diagnosing definitive DIC, it was not designed to detect early-phase DIC. The criteria and scoring system for sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) were developed and introduced in 2017 to detect early-stage DIC, and they were subsequently adopted by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in 2019. The objective of detecting SIC was not to miss the patients at high risk of developing overt DIC at an earlier time. Although anticoagulant therapies are potential options for the treatment of sepsis-associated DIC, their effectiveness has not been established, and further research is warranted. For that purpose, an international collaborative platform is required for future clinical trials, and SIC criteria have been suggested for such studies. Calculating the SIC score is straightforward and suitable for use in clinical settings. This review aims to introduce SIC criteria and its scoring system for better management of sepsis-associated DIC. We also intended to update the current knowledge regarding this novel diagnostic criterion.

Association between the use of statins and in-hospital mortality risk in patients with sepsis-induced coagulopathy during ICU stays: a study based on medical information mart for intensive care database

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to explore the correlation between statin administration in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and the in-hospital mortality risk of patients suffering from sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC).

METHODS

Utilizing a retrospective cohort study design, this investigation collected data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV spanning 2008 to 2019. The diagnosis of SIC was established based on a SIC score of 4 or above. Statin usage during the ICU period was extracted from the prescription records based on the keywords of statin medications. The primary endpoint analyzed was the in-hospital mortality within the ICU, characterized by any death occurring during the ICU admission.

RESULTS

During the follow-up, which had a median duration of approximately 7.28 days, 18.19% of the 4,777 SIC patients died in the ICU. Statin was linked with a decrease in the risk of in-hospital mortality for SIC patients in the ICU [hazard ratio (HR): 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-0.89, P = 0.002]. Relative to rosuvastatin, the use of atorvastatin (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.85, P = 0.008) or simvastatin (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.92, P = 0.024), as well as combinations of multiple statins (HR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15-0.86, P = 0.022), was associated with a reduction in ICU in-hospital mortality risk. Subgroup analysis also suggested that the use of atorvastatin, simvastatin, or a combination of statins had an advantage over rosuvastatin in reducing ICU in-hospital mortality in SIC patients older than 65 years of age or SIC patients with respiratory failure or cardiogenic shock (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The present study supports the potential benefits of statin use in mortality in SIC patients during ICU stays. The study encourages clinicians to consider the benefits of statins and supports the ongoing exploration of statins for enhanced outcomes in critical care settings.

COMPREHENSIVE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY ANALYSIS OF INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN IN TREATING SEPSIS-INDUCED COAGULOPATHY: A SINGLE-CENTER, RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACT

Objective : The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in treating sepsis-induced coagulopathy ( SIC ). Methods : A retrospective controlled analysis was conducted on 230 patients with SIC at Ganzhou People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2022. All patients were screened using propensity score matching and treated according to the SSC2016 guidelines. Compared with the control group (n = 115), patients in the test group (n = 115) received IVIg (200 mg/kg.d) for 3 consecutive days after admission. The rating scales, coagulation function, survival, and treatment duration were evaluated. Results : On day 3 of treatment, both groups exhibited reduced platelet and thromboelastogram (TEG) maximum amplitude (MA) levels, with the control group showing a more significant decrease ( P < 0.05). By the fifth day, these levels had recovered in both groups. However, the test group experienced a significant increase by day 7 ( P < 0.05). Coagulation factors II and X began to increase on day 3, and normalization was significantly faster in the test group on day 5 ( P < 0.05). The levels of prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, d -dimer, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products, TEG-R, and TEG-K exhibited a notable decline on day 3 and demonstrated significantly faster recovery on day 5 in the test group ( P < 0.05). In addition, both groups showed a reduction in Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and lactate (LAC) levels on day 3, but the test group's scores decreased significantly more by day 7 ( P < 0.05). Within the test group, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, IL-6, and Tmax levels were lower ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, the test group demonstrated shorter duration for intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation, and continuous renal replacement therapy ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the duration of fever or vasoactive drug use between the groups. However, the log-rank method indicated a higher 28-day survival rate in the test group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion : IVIg can successfully increase platelet count and coagulation factors, correct coagulation disorders, enhance organ function, and reduce 28-day mortality in patients with SIC .

Clot-Targeted Nanogels for Dual-Delivery of AntithrombinIII and Tissue Plasminogen Activator to Mitigate Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Complications

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathologic state that follows systemic injury and other diseases. Often a complication of sepsis or trauma, DIC causes coagulopathy associated with paradoxical thrombosis and hemorrhage. DIC upregulates the thrombotic pathways while simultaneously downregulating the fibrinolytic pathways that cause excessive fibrin deposition, microcirculatory thrombosis, multiorgan dysfunction, and consumptive coagulopathy with excessive bleeding. Given these opposing disease phenotypes, DIC management is challenging and includes treating the underlying disease and managing the coagulopathy. Currently, no therapies are approved for DIC. We have developed clot-targeted therapeutics that inhibit clot polymerization and activate clot fibrinolysis to manage DIC. We hypothesize that delivering both an anticoagulant and a fibrinolytic agent directly to clots will inhibit active clot polymerization while also breaking up pre-existing clots; therefore, reversing consumptive coagulopathy and restoring hemostatic balance. To test this hypothesis, we single- and dual-loaded fibrin-specific nanogels (FSNs) with antithrombinIII (ATIII) and/or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and evaluated their clot preventing and clot lysing abilities in vitro and in a rodent model of DIC. In vivo, single-loaded ATIII-FSNs decreased fibrin deposits in DIC organs and reduced blood loss when DIC rodents were injured. We also observed that the addition of tPA in dual-loaded ATIII-tPA-FSNs intensified the antithrombotic and fibrinolytic mechanisms, which proved advantageous for clot lysis and restoring platelet counts. However, the addition of tPA may have hindered wound healing capabilities when an injury was introduced. Our data supports the benefits of delivering both anticoagulants and fibrinolytic agents directly to clots to reduce the fibrin load and restore hemostatic balance in DIC.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived lipid mediator Resolvin D1 alleviates sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation via Caspase-1/Gasdermin D pyroptotic pathway

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is characterised by abnormal blood clotting resulting from severe infection, contributing to organ dysfunction in sepsis. Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is an endogenous lipid mediator, synthesised from the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) through enzymatic processes involving 15-LOX and 5-LOX. RvD1 is recognised for its protective properties against various inflammatory conditions. This study aims to investigate its potential to modulate coagulation dysfunction in sepsis and to evaluate coagulation disorders in septic patients.

METHODS

Sepsis models were established by intraperitoneal injection LPS (20 mg/kg) or cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) followed by injection of RvD1 (10 μg/kg) or saline. The impact of RvD1 on coagulation dysfunction was assessed by clotting time and coagulation indicators such as TAT, D-dimer, PAI-1, and fibrinogen. The activity of the coagulation system in vivo was observed by evaluating dynamic microcirculation, platelets and thrombin in mice using intravital microscopy. The effect of RvD1 on pyroptosis was investigated by measuring NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, Caspase-11, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD) levels via western blot. Caspase-1 knockout mice, GSDMD knockout mice and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Lastly, the concentration of RvD1 in plasma from septic patients was quantified to explore its relationship with coagulation and pyroptosis.

RESULTS

RvD1 significantly attenuated coagulation dysfunction in septic mice induced by LPS and CLP, and inhibited Caspase-1/GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis in septic mice and bone marrow-derived macrophages. In septic patients, the plasma concentrations of RvD1 was negatively correlated with both coagulation-related indicators and markers of GSDMD activation.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that RvD1 can improve coagulation dysfunction in sepsis by regulating the Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptotic pathway. Additionally, the concentration of RvD1 in septic patient plasma is related to prognosis and DIC development. RvD1 could be a potential biomarker and a promising therapeutic alternative in sepsis-induced DIC.

Persistent high sepsis-induced coagulopathy and sequential organ failure assessment scores can predict the 28-day mortality of patients with sepsis: A prospective study

BACKGROUND

The performance of the sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores in predicting the prognoses of patients with sepsis has been validated. This study aimed to investigate the time course of SIC and SOFA scores and their association with outcomes in patients with sepsis.

METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 209 patients with sepsis admitted to the emergency department. The SIC and SOFA scores of the patients were assessed on days 1, 2, and 4. Patients were categorized into survivor or non-survivor groups based on their 28-day survival. We conducted a generalized estimating equation analysis to evaluate the time course of SIC and SOFA scores and the corresponding differences between the two groups. The predictive value of SIC and SOFA scores at different time points for sepsis prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTS

In the non-survivor group, SIC and SOFA scores gradually increased during the first 4 days (P < 0.05). In the survivor group, the SIC and SOFA scores on day 2 were significantly higher than those on day 1 (P < 0.05); however, they decreased on day 4, dropping below the levels observed on day 1 (P < 0.05). The non-survivors showed higher SIC scores on days 2 (P < 0.05) and 4 (P < 0.001) than the survivors, whereas no significant differences were found between the two groups on day 1 (P > 0.05). The performance of SIC scores on day 4 for predicting mortality was more accurate than that on day 2, with areas under the curve of 0.749 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.674-0.823), and 0.601 (95% CI: 0.524-0.679), respectively. The SIC scores demonstrated comparable predictive accuracy for 28-day mortality to the SOFA scores on days 2 and 4. Cox proportional hazards models indicated that SIC on day 4 (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.736; 95% CI: 2.025-6.891) was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The time course of SIC and SOFA scores differed between surviving and non-surviving patients with sepsis, and persistent high SIC and SOFA scores can predict 28-day mortality.

Designing the Diagnostic Criteria for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common and critical complication in various diseases. There are several diagnostic criteria, such as the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) criteria, the Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (JSTH) criteria, and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) criteria. Due to the strengths and drawbacks inherent in each diagnostic criterion, it has the potential to cause confusion in clinical settings. It is possible to increase the specificity by making a complex criterion but simple and easy-to-use criteria are demanded in practice. To establish pragmatic criteria using readily available biomarkers, the ISTH focused on DIC arising from sepsis and released sepsis-induced coagulopathy criteria (SIC). A similar approach will aid in constructing a practical diagnostic criterion tailored to each specific background.

Investigation of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia in adult patients with sepsis using fibrinogen function vs. concentration ratios: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Inherited or acquired molecular abnormalities form a clinically heterogeneous group of fibrinogen disorders called dysfibrinogenaemia. Apart from a pediatric case report and in contrast to other clinical conditions, acquired dysfibrinogenaemia has not been previously reported in septic patients.

Methods

In an observational cohort study, 79 adult septic patients were investigated for the presence of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia at the time of their admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital Frankfurt. Following established recommendations, fibrinogen clotting activity vs. antigen ratios were analyzed using Clauss fibrinogen, prothrombin-derived fibrinogen, and radial immunodiffusion (RID) fibrinogen concentration.

Results

Prothrombin-derived fibrinogen levels were highest (527 ± 182 mg/dL) followed by Clauss fibrinogen (492 ± 209 mg/dL) and radial immunodiffusion fibrinogen (426 ± 159 mg/dL). Very few cases demonstrated hypofibrinogenaemia making overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) unlikely in the cohort investigated. Clauss/RID fibrinogen ratios were lower (1.17 ± 0.19) compared to prothrombin time-derived/RID ratios (1.35 ± 0.33). Using the Clauss/RID dataset, 21% of patients (16/76 patients) demonstrated values below a threshold ratio for suspected acquired dysfibrinogenaemia arbitrarily set at 1.0. In contrast, prothrombin-derived ratios were below the threshold in only 7% (4/58 patients).

Discussion

The results point to the presence of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia in part of adult septic patients. If confirmed in further studies, this may form part of a specific laboratory signature of a sepsis-associated coagulation phenotype.

Comparison of the prognostic value of four different critical illness scores in patients with sepsis-induced coagulopathy

In patients with sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC), the Chinese DIC scoring system (CDSS) of the Chinese Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis score, the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM) score, the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH), and the Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress Adverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) score were compared for their predictive significance (SIC). From August 2021 through August 2022, 92 SIC patients hospitalized in our hospital's Department of Critical Care Medicine served as study participants. Groups of patients were created with a bad prognosis (n = 35) and a favorable prognosis (n = 57) 14 days following admission. Electronic medical records were used to compile patient information such as demographics (gender, age, and body mass index), medical history (hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease), treatment (mechanical ventilation, APACHE II score at admission), and outcomes (results). All patients' JAAM, CDSS, ISTH, and CRUSADE scores were recorded. The APACHE II scores of the group with a poor prognosis were noticeably (p < 0.05) higher upon admission than those of the group with a favorable prognosis. The poor prognosis group had higher JAAM, ISTH, CDSS, and CRUSADE scores than the good prognosis group (all p < 0.05). Partial coagulation indicators in fibrinogen, D-dimer, activated partial thromboplastin time, and prothrombin time were positively linked with JAAM, ISTH, CDSS, and CRUSADE (all p < 0.05). At admission, the JAAM, ISTH, CDSS, CRUSADE, and APACHE II scores were independently linked with SIC patients' prognosis (all p < 0.05) in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. According to receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve for predicting the prognosis of SIC patients using the JAAM, ISTH, CDSS, and CRUSADE4 scores was 0.896, 0.870, 0.852, and 0.737, respectively, with 95% CI being 0.840-0.952, 0.805-0.936, 0.783-0.922 and 0.629-0.845, respectively (all p < 0.05). The prognosis of SIC patients may be predicted in part by their JAAM, ISTH, CDSS, and CRUSADE4 scores, with the CDSS score being the most accurate. This research provides important recommendations for improving the care of patients with SIC.

Super Formula for Diagnosing Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Using Soluble C-Type Lectin-like Receptor 2

The scoring systems for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) criteria require several adequate cutoff values, vary, and are complicated. Accordingly, a simpler and quicker diagnostic method for DIC is needed. Under such circumstances, soluble C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (sCLEC-2) received attention as a biomarker for platelet activation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The diagnostic usefulness of sCLEC-2 and several formulas, including sCLEC-2xD-dimer, sCLEC-2/platelet count (sCLEC-2/PLT), and sCLEC-2/PLT × D-dimer (sCLEC-2xD-dimer/PLT), were evaluated among 38 patients with DIC, 39 patients with pre-DIC and 222 patients without DIC or pre-DIC (non-DIC).

RESULTS

Although the plasma level of sCLEC-2 alone was not a strong biomarker for the diagnosis of DIC or pre-DIC, the sCLEC-2xD-dimer/PLT values in patients with DIC were significantly higher than those in patients without DIC, and in a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the diagnosis of DIC, sCLEC-2xD-dimer/PLT showed the highest AUC, sensitivity, and odds ratio. This formula is useful for the diagnosis of both pre-DIC and DIC. sCLEC-2xD-dimer/PLT values were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors.

CONCLUSION

The sCLEC-2xD-dimer/PLT formula is simple, easy, and highly useful for the diagnosis of DIC and pre-DIC without the use of a scoring system.

The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation

BACKGROUND

The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) released overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) diagnostic criteria in 2001. Since then, DIC has been understood as the end-stage consumptive coagulopathy and not the therapeutic target. However, DIC is not merely a decompensated coagulation disorder, but also includes early stages with systemic activation in coagulation. Thus, the ISTH has recently released sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) criteria that can diagnose compensated-phase of coagulopathy with readily available biomarkers.

MAIN BODY

DIC is a laboratory-based diagnosis due to various critical conditions, although sepsis is the most common underlying disease. The pathophysiology of sepsis-associated DIC is multifactorial, and in addition to coagulation activation with suppressed fibrinolysis, multiple inflammatory responses are initiated by activated leukocytes, platelets, and vascular endothelial cells as part of thromboinflammation. Although overt DIC diagnostic criteria were established by ISTH to diagnose the advanced stage of DIC, additional criteria that can detect an earlier stage of DIC were needed for potential therapeutic considerations. Accordingly, the ISTH introduced SIC criteria in 2019 that are easy to use and require only platelet count, prothrombin time-international normalized ratio, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score. SIC score can be used to evaluate disease severity and determine the timing of potential therapeutic interventions. One of the major disadvantages in treating sepsis-associated DIC is the lack of availability of specific therapeutic approaches beyond treating the underlying infection. Clinical trials to date have failed because included patients who were not coagulopathic. Nevertheless, in addition to infection control, anticoagulant therapy will be the choice for sepsis-associated DIC. Therefore, the efficacy of heparin, antithrombin, and recombinant thrombomodulin has to be proven in future clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to develop a novel therapeutic strategy against sepsis-associated DIC and improve the outcomes. Consequently, we recommend screening and monitoring DIC using SIC scoring system.

Clinical Application of a Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR in the Rapid Diagnosis of Children with Suspected Bloodstream Infections

Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) recently has been shown to be a potential diagnostic tool for adults with bloodstream infections (BSIs); however, its application in children remains obscure. In this study, 76 blood samples of children with suspected BSIs were synchronously detected by traditional blood cultures (BCs) and ddPCRs. Our team validated the diagnostic performance of ddPCR including sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. The 76 pediatric patients from the hematology department (67.1%), the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU, 27.6%), and other departments (5.2%) were enrolled. The positive rate of ddPCR results was 47.9%, whereas that for BC was 6.6%. In addition, the time consumption of ddPCR was shorter, only for 4.7 ± 0.9 h, in comparison with the detection timing of BC (76.7 ± 10.4 h, p < 0.01). The levels of agreement and disagreement between BC and ddPCR were 96.1% and 4.2%, and the negative agreement reached 95.6%. The sensitivity of ddPCR was 100%, with corresponding specificities ranging from 95.3 to 100.0%. In addition, a total of nine viruses were identified by ddPCR. In China, the multiplexed ddPCR first could be a tool for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of children with suspected BSIs and can be an early indicator of the possibility of viraemia in children with immunosuppression.

Serum Thrombomodulin Level Can Predict Mortality in Patients With Sepsis?

Background

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a type-1 trans-membrane glycoprotein on endothelial cells which is known to be involved in various biochemical pathways. TM can be detected in biological fluids such as blood and urine under many forms. Soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), consist of various particles of TM, is the predominant agent which is created by enzymatic or chemical catalysis of the whole protein under divergent conditions. TM plays a vital role in protein C system and is crucial in the pathogenesis of Sepsis.

Objective

To identify the serum level of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) in groups of patients: sepsis and septic shock including their survival and fatal in-hospital outcome; and validate the death prediction of serum sTM in patients with sepsis.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted in 63 patients who were diagnosed with sepsis, septic shock according to Sepsis 3 criteria at the ICU Department of Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam, from 3/2022 to 3/2023.

Results

Twenty participants developed septic shock (31.7%), morality within 28-days was 19 patients (30.2%), 22 patients complicated with acute kidney injury that necessitated renal replacement therapy (34.9%), 30 patients required mechanical ventilation (47.6%), the median length of ICU stay was 8 (3-28) days. Serum level of lactate and creatinine were significantly higher in septic shock group compared with sepsis and survival group (p<0.05). The median sTM level in septic shock group and fatal group were 4.68(3.38-6.46) ng/mL and 4.68 (1.69-6.46) ng/mL, respectively. These results were significantly higher than sepsis group [3.62 (1.51-1.94) ng/mL] and survival group [3.73 (1.51-5.9) ng/mL] (p<0.05). The death predictive power of DIC score, APACHE II score, creatinine, sTM and SOFA presented with AUC values of 0.723, 0.726, 0.777, 0.803 and 0.807, respectively. There were no significant difference of serum level IL-6 and PCT between survival and fatal group. The median DIC score in fatal group was 7 (3-7), which was significantly higher than survival group 4 (2-7) (p= 0.001).

Conclusion

Sepsis is a common diagnosis among ICU settings which links the critically ill patients to higher complications and mortalities. Serum level of sTM in septic shock and fatal groups were significantly higher than sepsis and survival groups. sTM is a reliable marker and should be used in predict severity and mortality in sepsis patients.