Intravascular Disseminated Coagulation (DIC) is a medical condition characterized by abnormal blood clotting throughout the body's blood vessels. It is a complex disorder that involves the widespread activation of clotting factors and the consumption of platelets and clotting proteins, leading to both abnormal clot formation and excessive bleeding.
In DIC, the coagulation system is activated in response to an underlying condition or event, such as severe infection, trauma, cancer, or complications during pregnancy. This activation triggers the formation of small blood clots, which can obstruct blood flow to vital organs, impair their function, and eventually lead to organ failure.
Simultaneously, the clotting process depletes the body's supply of platelets and clotting factors, making it difficult for the blood to form normal clots at the site of injuries, resulting in excessive bleeding (hemorrhage).
Clinical manifestations of DIC include petechiae (small reddish-purple spots on the skin), purpura (larger purple patches), bleeding from multiple sites, organ dysfunction, and in severe cases, shock.
Diagnosis of DIC involves assessing clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory tests to evaluate blood clotting factors, platelets, and other markers of coagulation dysfunction.
Management of DIC depends on treating the underlying cause, controlling symptoms, providing supportive care, and targeting the dysregulated coagulation process. This may involve transfusion of blood products, administration of clotting factors, the use of anticoagulant medications, and treating the underlying condition.
Intravascular Disseminated Coagulation is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and appropriate intervention to improve patient outcomes.
