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Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - Treatment

Alternative Names

Consumption coagulopathy

Treatment:

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

Blood clotting factors may be replaced with plasma transfusions. Platelet transfusions can raise the blood count. Heparin, a medication used to prevent clotting, is sometimes used to interrupt clotting events.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome depends on what is causing the disorder, but DIC can be life-threatening.

Complications:

Bleeding
Lack of blood flow to the arms, legs, or vital organs
Stroke

Calling your health care provider:

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have bleeding that won't stop.

Blood clot formation

Meningococcemia on the calves

Meningococcemia on the leg

Meningococcemia associated purpura

Blood clots

Reviewed last on: 12/28/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Schafer AI. Hemorrhagic disorders: disseminated intravascular coagulation, liver failure, and vitamin K deficiency. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 181.

Liebman HA, Weitz IC. Disseminated intravascular coagulation. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 132.

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