Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Question 1

What is DIC?

Answer 1

Inappropriate widespread clotting activation (inappropriate activation of the clotting system)

Question 2

What does DIC result in?

Answer 2

Thrombus formation and depletion of clotting factors and platelets.

Question 3

Which factors are deficient in someone with DIC?

Answer 3

Factor 5 and factor 8

Question 4

What are the possible physical presentations of DIC?

Answer 4

Petechiae
Brushing
Confusion
Hypotension.

Question 5

What symtpoms can DIC present with?

Answer 5

Excess bleeding (epistaxis, gingival bleeding)
Haematuria
Bleeding from cannula sites

Question 6

What will be increased in someone with DIC?

Answer 6

• Increased d-dimer
• Increased bleeding time
• Incerased PT/APTT
• Fibrinogen degradation products

Question 7

What will be decreased in someone with DIC?

Answer 7

• Decreased platelets
• Decreased fibrinogen

Question 8

What would you find on a blood film of someone with DIC?

Answer 8

schistocytes due to microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia

Question 9

What are the possible causes of DIC?

Answer 9

sepsis
trauma
obstetric complications
malignancy

Question 10

What type of leukaemia is DIC associated with?

Answer 10

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia