## Overview Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder of clotting in which widespread activation of coagulation consumes platelets and clotting factors, leading to both thrombosis and bleeding. It is almost always secondary to another critical illness, most often sepsis, endotoxemia, or severe gastrointestinal disease. ## Causes Sepsis, endotoxemia, neoplasia, or severe systemic inflammation triggering uncontrolled coagulation. ## Diagnosis Clinical signs of bleeding (petechiae, prolonged bleeding from venipuncture sites) plus laboratory evidence of thrombocytopenia, prolonged clotting times, and elevated fibrin degradation products. ## Treatment Aggressive treatment of the underlying disease, fluid support, plasma transfusion, and sometimes heparin. Early recognition improves the chance of survival. ## Recovery and Prognosis Guarded to poor. Outcome depends heavily on control of the primary disease. ## Prevention Prompt, aggressive treatment of conditions that predispose to endotoxemia or sepsis.
bleeding from multiple sites; petechiae; prolonged clotting; often accompanies sepsis or endotoxemia
## Overview Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder of clotting in which widespread activation of coagulation consumes platelets and clotting factors, leading to both thrombosis and bleeding. It is almost always secondary to another critical illness, most often sepsis, endotoxemia, or severe gastrointestinal disease. ## Causes Sepsis, endotoxemia, neoplasia, or severe systemic inflammation triggering uncontrolled coagulation. ## Diagnosis Clinical signs of bleeding (petechiae, prolonged bleeding from venipuncture sites) plus laboratory evidence of thrombocytopenia, prolonged clotting times, and elevated fibrin degradation products. ## Treatment Aggressive treatment of the underlying disease, fluid support, plasma transfusion, and sometimes heparin. Early recognition improves the chance of survival. ## Recovery and Prognosis Guarded to poor. Outcome depends heavily on control of the primary disease. ## Prevention Prompt, aggressive treatment of conditions that predispose to endotoxemia or sepsis.
bleeding from multiple sites; petechiae; prolonged clotting; often accompanies sepsis or endotoxemia