Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder of the proteins that control blood clotting. Initially, these proteins are activated to form small clots that block blood vessels, and later they are depleted, leading to bleeding due to the inability to clot.
The most common triggers are infection, inflammation and neoplastic disease.
The most common symptoms are bleeding, bruising and low blood pressure.
Diagnosis requires a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination. Blood tests that quantify clotting factors are used to make a reliable diagnosis.
There is no specific treatment, but depending on the stage of the disease, it may be necessary to transfuse plasma or give heparin. The most important thing is to treat the underlying cause.
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