Disseminated intravascular coagulation, or DIC, is a serious disruption in the body’s clotting mechanism.
Normally, the body forms a blood clot in reaction to an injury. With DIC, the body overproduces many small
blood clots throughout the body, depleting the body of clotting factors and platelets.

These small clots are dangerous and can interfere with the blood supply to organs, causing dysfunction and
failure. Massive bleeding can occur due to the body’s lack of clotting factor and platelets. DIC is life-threatening
and needs to be treated promptly.

Causes

There are many causes of DIC. The disorder is usually caused by a release of chemicals into the bloodstream
from one of the following conditions:

• Sepsis (a system-wide infection) , especially with gram-negative bacteria

• Labor and delivery complications

• • Eclampsia

• • Amniotic fluid clots

• • Retained placenta

• Certain cancers

• Extensive tissue injury

• • Burns

• • Head injury

• Reaction to blood transfusion

• Shock

• Less common causes include:

• • Severe head trauma

• • Prostate surgery complications

• • Venomous snake bites

Risk Factors

Certain conditions increase your chances of developing DIC. When making a diagnosis, your doctor will look
for the following risk factors:

• Recent episode of sepsis

• Recent injury or trauma

• Recent surgery or anesthesia

• Labor and delivery complications

• Leukemia or widespread cancer

• Recent reaction to a blood transfusion

• Severe liver disease

Symptoms

Symptoms of DIC can vary in severity, depending on the cause, as well as the time of diagnosis. DIC is a
life-threatening condition that must be treated promptly. Should you experience bleeding that doesn’t stop, or
bleeding from an unknown source, it is critical to get emergency treatment. Symptoms of DIC include:

• Bleeding

• • Sometimes severe

• • From multiple locations in the body

• • Unknown cause

• • Gastrointestinal bleeding

• Blood clot formation causing fingers or toes to look blue

• Sudden bruising

Diagnosis

Your doctor will make a diagnosis of DIC based on your signs and symptoms, as well as results to certain
blood tests. Like symptoms of DIC, blood levels will vary according to the severity of the DIC. Your blood will be
examined for abnormal levels of certain tests, including:

• Platelet Count – usually reduced in DIC

• Fibrinogen – usually reduced in DIC

• Fibrin Degradation Products – usually elevated level in DIC

• Prothrombin Time (PT) – usually prolonged in DIC

• Partial Throboplastin Time (PTT) – usually prolonged in DIC

• Thrombin Test Time – prolonged in DIC

• D-dimer Test – high level in DIC

Treatment

Treatment of DIC depends on identifying and treating the underlying cause quickly. Your doctor may give you
certain blood products or medications to treat your condition. Sepsis is usually treated with antibiotics.
Treatment options include the following:

Blood Products

Fresh frozen plasma is used to replace low levels of coagulation factors caused by DIC. Platelets may also be
given to restore low levels. Cryoprecipitates may also be used to correct low levels of fibrinogen.

Heparin

Heparin is a blood thinner. Doctors sometimes give heparin in combination with blood products to reduce
blood clots. Cancer patients whose DIC is difficult to control may receive heparin to control blood clots.

Antithrombin III

This medication is sometimes used to slow down clotting in certain patients.

Prevention

To help reduce your chances of getting DIC, make sure you obtain prompt treatment for any of the conditions
that can cause this disorder.

RESOURCES:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.nlm.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

BC Health Guide
http://www.bchealthguide.org

Canadian Medical Association Journal
http://www.cmaj.ca

References

Bleeding and clotting disorders. The Merck Manual website. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/
ch173/ch173a.html. Accessed December 11, 2006.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Medline Plus. National Library of Medicine website. Available at:
http://www.nlm.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000573.htm. Accessed December 11, 2006.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Medline Plus. National Library of Medicine website. Available at:
http://www.nlm.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000573.htm. Accessed July 11, 2005.

Hemostasis and coagulation disorders. The Merck Manual website. Available at: http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/CVMHighLight?file=/mrkshared/mmanual/section11/chapter131/131d.jsp%
3Fregion%3Dmerckcom&word=disseminated&word=intravascular&word=coagulation&domain=www.merck.
com#hl_anchor. Accessed July 11, 2005.

Karnik L, Murray J. Anticoagulation in the trauma patient. Trauma. 2005;7:63-68.