What Is Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and How Is It Diagnosed?

What Is Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and How Is It Diagnosed?

Question 1. Write a short note on disseminated intravascular Coagulation.
Answer:  

“Understanding the role of DIC in blood clotting disorders”

Disseminated intravascular coagulation is also termed defibrillator syndrome or consumption coagulopathy.

• It is a complex thrombohemorrhagic disorder occuring as a secondary complication in some of the diseases.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation Etiology

• Massive Tissue Injury: In obstetrical syndrome, i.e. abruptioplacentae, amniotic fluid embolism, retained dead fetus.
  • Massive trauma
  • Metastatic malignancies
  • Surgery

“Importance of studying DIC for better healthcare outcomes”

• Infections: Endotoxemia, septicemia, malaria, certain viral infections.
• Widespread Endothelial Damage: In aortic aneurysm
  • Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
  • Severe burn
• Miscellaneous: Snake bite, shock, heat stroke, acute intravascular hemolysis.

“Common challenges in diagnosing and managing DIC”

“Steps to explain the pathophysiology of disseminated intravascular coagulation”

Read And Learn More: Pathology Question And Answers

Disseminated intravascular coagulation Pathogenesis

• Activation of coagulation: The etiological factors initiating widespread activation of coagulation pathway by release of tissue factors.
• Thromboitic phase: Endothelial damage from various thrombogenic stimuli causes generalized platelet aggregation and adhesion with resultant deposition of small thrombi and emboli throughout the microvasculature.
• Consumption phase: The thrombolytic phase is followed by a phase of consumption of coagulation factors and platelets.
• Secondary fibrinolysis: As a protective mechanism firinolytic system is secondary activation at the site of intravascular coagulation.

“Role of widespread clot formation and bleeding in DIC”

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation diagnosis

Disseminated intravascular coagulation Clinical Features

• Bleeding: The most common manifestation.
• Organ damage: Due to ischemia caused by widespread intravascular thrombosis such as kidney and brain.
• Less common manifestation includes microangiopathy, hemolytic anemia and thrombosis.

“Early warning signs of untreated disseminated intravascular coagulation”

Disseminated intravascular coagulation Laboratory Diagnosis

• Platelet count is low.
• Blood film: Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
• Prothrombin time, thrombin time is prolonged.
• Plasma firinogen levels are reduced.
• Fibrin degradation products are raised.