Pathophysiology
Clinical meaning
DIC involves systemic activation of coagulation with simultaneous consumption of clotting factors and platelets causing both microvascular thrombosis and hemorrhage. Triggers: sepsis, trauma, malignancy, obstetric complications. Labs: prolonged PT/aPTT, low fibrinogen (<100), elevated D-dimer, thrombocytopenia, schistocytes on smear. Treatment: treat underlying cause, replace with FFP/cryo/platelets if bleeding, heparin only if thrombosis predominates.