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Acute DIC

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The common causes of acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) include:

  • infection:
    • Gram negative bacteraemia will produce some DIC in 10-20% of patients
    • Gram positive sepsis is a less common cause of DIC
    • systemic fungal infection, malaria, viral haemorrhagic fevers, herpes and influenza are rare causes of DIC

  • obstetric catastrophes:
    • abruptio placentae with amniotic fluid embolism releases a tissue factor into the maternal circulation
    • evacuation of the uterus usually results in prompt termination of the DIC

  • endothelial damage:
    • burns, sunstroke, electric shocks etc

  • incompatible blood transfusion:
    • usually requires ABO incompatibility
    • DIC results from endothelial damaged by complement and not from lysed red cells

  • hepatic disease:
    • acute hepatic necrosis
    • acute fatty liver of pregnancy
    • LeVeen shunt insertion in a patient with ascites

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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