Define the term Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
a syndrome characterized by thrombosis, hemorrhage, and organ dysfunction caused by systemic activation of the clotting cascade, which leads to platelet consumption and exhaustion of clotting factors
What is a latent DIC?
no overt symptoms (little to no bleeding, increased risk of thrombotic events, laboratory abnormalities) —> Referred to as nonsymptomatic type DIC in the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) classification system
What is a overt DIC?
clear signs and symptoms (e.g., bleeding, thrombosis) that depend on the balance of the deranged processes
Describe the characteristics of acute DIC.
Excess thrombin generation leading to the formation of microthrombi and, eventually, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA)
Rapid consumption of coagulation factors and platelets
Common causes include septic shock, acute pancreatitis, burns, snake bites, transplant rejection
Often starts as a hypercoagulable state (organ failure type DIC)
Describe the characteristics of chronic DIC.
Small thrombin generation over prolonged periods of time
Slower consumption of coagulation factors and platelets
Common causes include malignancies, aneurysms, retroperitoneal hematomas, intrauterine fetal death
Often manifests as nonsymptomatic type DIC
Thrombosis is more common in symptomatic chronic DIC.
Define the term consumption coagulopathy.
Hyperfibrinolysis, causing overt coagulopathy and bleeding, PLUS hypercoagulability, which causes consumption of platelets and clotting factors, resulting in even more blood loss.
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