[A proposed method for the laboratory diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in liver cirrhosis].

Laboratory diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in liver cirrhosis (LC) could be complicated by the presence of the usual decrement of the hemocoagulative parameters and of an increase of the fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP). The D-dimer test, more sensible than the one for FDP and specific for the cross-linked fibrin degradation products is now available. A significant difference between the two tests, assayed simultaneously has been demonstrated in 217 LC patients, without any recent or present hemorrhagic signs. The D-dimer was increased in only 60 of the 108 patients with high values of FDP; therefore this test has a screening value higher than FDP. If only the D-dimer is elevated, the FDP assay is indicated: if FDP are normal a thrombosis may be present and, finally, if the FDP are also increased with a concomitant decrement of fibrinogenemia, the laboratory diagnosis of DIC is reasonably certain.