Method for Determining Condition of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

A method for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), by analyzing the amount and / or enzyme activity of a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) (preferably also the amount of vWF) in a patient suffering from DIC, and a kit for determining a condition of DIC, comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to ADAMTS13, are disclosed. According to the present invention, a differential diagnosis of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can be carried out from among patients with DIC, which could not be distinguished on the basis of only clinical findings or known markers.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a method for determining a condition of disseminated intravascular coagulation (hereinafter referred to as DIC).BACKGROUND ART[0002]In DIC, microthrombi are formed in microvasculature, in the presence of a severe underlying disease. The microthrombi damage the microcirculation and cause organ dysfunction or a bleeding tendency. The following three failures or reactions are observed in DIC:(1) The microthrombus formation causes a microcirculatory failure, and a variety of organs fall into dysfunction due to ischemia.(2) The microthrombus formation promotes a consumption coagulopathy, that is, an increase in tissue factor production on the surface of endothelial cells leads to activation of an extrinsic coagulation pathway. Further, coagulation factors and platelets are consumed, and a bleeding tendency occurs.(3) Hyperfibrinolysis, that is, the fibrinolytic system activated due to the activation of coagulation, generates plasmin, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]DIC and TTP are similar in their conditions, and thus, are difficult to accurately diagnose. Further, in both cases, if an appropriate treatment determined by an early diagnosis is not carried out at an early stage, the patient will die, and therefore, it is very important to differentiate “DIC to be diagnosed as TTP” from “DIC irrelevant to TTP”. According to the present invention, in patients diagnosed with DIC based on the present diagnosis criteria, “DIC to be diagnosed as TTP” can be differentiated from “DIC irrelevant to TTP”, and an appropriate treatment can be carried out to elevate the survival rate or reduce the mortality rate.

Problems solved by technology

The microthrombi damage the microcirculation and cause organ dysfunction or a bleeding tendency.

(1) The microthrombus formation causes a microcirculatory failure, and a variety of organs fall into dysfunction due to ischemia.

(2) The microthrombus formation promotes a consumption coagulopathy, that is, an increase in tissue factor production on the surface of endothelial cells leads to activation of an extrinsic coagulation pathway. Further, coagulation factors and platelets are consumed, and a bleeding tendency occurs.

(3) Hyperfibrinolysis, that is, the fibrinolytic system activated due to the activation of coagulation, generates plasmin, which degrades fibrin. When the α-plasmin inhibitor (α2PI), which inhibits plasmin, is consumed and decreased to less than 60% of the normal level, fibrin is degraded by the plasmin and a bleeding tendency occurs.

The diagnostic criteria are suitable for a definitive diagnosis of DIC, but are not suitable for an early diagnosis of DIC.

Where a clinical treatment of DIC is carried out in accordance with the diagnosis criteria, there are many cases in which DIC is at such an advanced stage that it is too late.

Further, there are not a few cases, in the clinical field, where it is difficult to carry out a differentiation as to whether or not a decreased platelet count is caused by DIC.

These conditions or diseases are sometimes accompanied by elevated FDPs and / or elevated D-dimer as well as decreased platelets, and it becomes more difficult to carry out a differentiation of DIC.

Erythrocytes which forcibly have passed through these narrowed portions are mechanically broken, and hemolysis occurs.

Therefore, the administration of FFP alone is insufficient to treat acquired and idiopathic TTP, and a plasma exchange (PE) is the first option.

The mortality rate before the introduction of the PE or the FFP transfusion therapy was more than 80%, and the prognosis was very poor.

However, many refractory cases and recurrent cases are known, and there remain problems to be solved.

Further, advanced TTP is refractory and has a poor prognosis, and thus, an early diagnosis and an early treatment are necessary.

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