Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a critical condition in which small blood clots develop throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels. This systemic clotting depletes the patient's platelets and clotting factors leading to excessive bleeding. It is a breakdown of the finely regulated coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades. There are multiple conditions that can lead to DIC including:
- Tumors
- Leukemia
- Obstetric complications: abruptio placentae, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, amniotic fluid embolism, retained intrauterine fetal demise, septic abortion, postpartum hemorrhage
- Massive tissue injury: trauma, burns, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, extensive surgery
- Sepsis—bacterial infections are most common
- Transfusion reactions (i.e., ABO incompatibility)
- Severe allergic or toxic reactions (i.e., snake venoms)
- Large aortic aneurysms
