Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a serious condition affecting the body's blood clotting system. It causes widespread formation of tiny blood clots throughout the bloodstream, which can block small blood vessels and reduce blood flow to organs. At the same time, the body's clotting factors and platelets get used up, leading to an increased risk of severe bleeding. This condition involves the circulatory system and can cause damage to vital organs like the kidneys, lungs, and brain. Common triggers include severe infections, trauma, or cancer. The balance between clotting and bleeding is disrupted, making DIC a medical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a systemic disorder characterized by widespread activation of the coagulation cascade, leading to the formation of microvascular thrombi and simultaneous consumption of platelets and coagulation factors. It is typically triggered by an underlying condition such as severe sepsis, trauma, malignancy, or obstetric complications. The pathophysiology involves excessive generation of thrombin, resulting in fibrin deposition and microvascular occlusion, which causes tissue ischemia and organ dysfunction. Concurrently, consumption of clotting factors and platelets leads to a bleeding diathesis. Laboratory findings include prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), decreased fibrinogen, elevated D-dimer, and thrombocytopenia. Clinically, patients may present with bleeding, thrombosis, or both, making DIC a complex and life-threatening coagulopathy.