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Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Consumption coagulopathy

Treatment:

The goal is to determine and treat the underlying cause of DIC.

Blood clotting factors will be replaced with plasma transfusions. Heparin, a medication used to prevent thrombosis, is sometimes used in combination with replacement therapy.

Expectations (prognosis):

The underlying disease that causes the disorder will usually predict the probable outcome.

Complications:

• Severe bleeding
• Stroke
• Lack of blood flow to arms, legs, or organs

Calling your health care provider:

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have continued bleeding of unknown cause.

References:

Levi M. Disseminated intravascular coagulation: What's new? Crit Care Clin . Jul 2005; 21(3): 449-67.

DeLoughery TG. Critical care clotting catastrophies. Crit Care Clin . Jul 2005; 21(3): 531-62.

Gando S. A multicenter, prospective validation of disseminated intravascular coagulation diagnostic criteria for critically ill patients: comparing current criteria. Crit Care Med . Mar 2006; 34(3): 625-31.

• Review Date: 2/6/2007
• Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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