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Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Marcel Levi1

  • 1Department of Vascular Medicine and Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.m.levi@amc.uva.nl

Critical Care Medicine
|September 15, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious condition complicating various disorders, leading to organ dysfunction and bleeding. Understanding its pathogenesis improves diagnosis and supportive treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a critical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
  • It arises from a complex interplay of coagulation activation, impaired anticoagulation, and fibrinolysis.
  • DIC can manifest in diverse clinical settings, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review current knowledge on disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
  • To elucidate the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for DIC.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of relevant literature.
  • Information was gathered from selected articles indexed in the MEDLINE database.

Main Results:

  • DIC pathogenesis involves tissue factor-mediated coagulation, overwhelmed anticoagulant mechanisms, and deficient fibrinolysis.
  • Diagnosis relies on standard laboratory tests and established scoring systems.
  • Management includes supportive care, such as platelet and factor replacement, anticoagulation, and restoration of regulatory pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced understanding of DIC pathogenesis has led to improved clinical management.
  • Current strategies include refined diagnostic criteria and effective supportive treatments for DIC.
Abstract

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