Friday, February, 10, 2012

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Table of Contents

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.


Support Groups


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.


Review Date: 12/28/2010
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)