Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a condition that causes the production of blood clots in an individual's small blood vessels that can obstruct blood flow to organs in the affected region. Clotting factors and platelets are components of the blood required for the appropriate and effective formation of blood clots. DIC is a condition where the clotting factors become more active than normal, resulting in an inappropriate formation of blood clots. This condition can be acute and occur suddenly, or it may be chronic and develop slowly. Diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation is made through a thorough physical exam, medical history, complete blood count, blood smear, serum fibrinogen, and fibrin degradation tests, among others. Treatment is based on symptoms and may include blood transfusions, oxygen therapy, and other medications.

There are several causes and risk factors associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation, and numerous complications can arise from it. Get to know them now.

Infection Or Inflammation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation may be caused by an individual's infection or inflammation. The most common type of bacterial infections implicated in the development of DIC is gram-positive blood infections, rickettsia infections, and gram-negative blood infections. Some viral infections have also been implicated in the development of DIC, including HIV, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis viruses. Fungal Histoplasma infections and parasitic malaria infections have also been seen to induce disseminated intravascular coagulation. The systemic influx of proinflammatory cytokines results from a microorganism's specific cell membrane components, like endotoxins and lipopolysaccharide. Large amounts of cytokines can stimulate the production and expression of a tissue factor that initiates the coagulation cascade, ultimately resulting in inappropriate thrombin formation. Infections such as pancreatitis are known to directly activate clotting factor X and elevating the activity of thrombin in the systemic circulation, causing the inappropriate formation of clots. Because they are a probable cause, individuals who contract such infections or have systemic inflammation are at an increased risk of developing DIC.

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