Waveform analysis of clotting test optical profiles in the diagnosis and management of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Transmittance waveform charts the changes in light transmittance on standard coagulation assays, such as the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Analysis and characterization of these data on photo-optical coagulation analysers provides additional qualitative and quantitative information to that obtained using the clotting time alone. The most thoroughly evaluated clinical application is that of the biphasic APTT waveform with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The degree of waveform abnormality correlates directly with the severity of haemostatic dysfunction and allows for both the prediction and monitoring from non-overt to overt DIC. As its performance is simple and rapid, this provides the means for targeting therapeutic intervention to an earlier stage of DIC. The recent identification that the mechanism underlying the biphasic waveform is a complex that exists in vivo between C reactive protein with very low density lipoprotein, provides potentially important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of DIC. Thus, in addition to the immediate clinical utility in diagnostic practice, it has important applications as a research tool. Preliminary experience in the application of this technology to the diagnosis and management of the haemophilias and the lupus anticoagulant syndrome has also provided evidence of the power and utility of waveform analysis in essentially simple clotting assays.