disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

see also:

• coagulation pathways

• DIC is a rare but serious condition that causes a consumptive widepread clotting process throughout the circulation and thus also results in bleeding tendency due to the consumption of clotting factors
• it may develop rapidly over hours or more slowly over days

• severe sepsis
• severe burns
• multi-trauma
• fat embolism
• amniotic fluid embolism
• snakebite
• other causes

• bleeding
• bruising
• hypotension
• SOB
• confusion
• possible multi-organ failure

• prolonged coagulation tests such as INR
• very high D-Dimer pathology test and other fibrin degradation products (FDPs)
• low fibrinogen
• there may also be thrombocytopenia and anaemia