Schistocytes in disseminated intravascular coagulation

Summary Introduction The presence of schistocytes on the peripheral blood film during disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) remains controversial. Methods We examined schistocytes count on blood films from 35 DIC patients and checked morphological anomalies of all RBCs. Results Thirty of 35 patients presented with schistocytes and 22 with acanthocytes, which was the commonest shape anomaly. Mean percentage ± standard deviation was 0.33 ± 0.38%, median value was 0.1%, and range was 0–1.4%. The patients with schistocytes ≥ 1% had circumstances frequently associated with increased schistocytes count (promyelocytic leukaemia, pregnancy, severe infection). Discussion Schistocytes were thus frequently observed in DIC patients, usually with low percentage, within or close to the reference range (