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

Delivered A Baby

Certain individuals who have recently delivered a baby are at an increased risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation. Certain complications that occur in a woman who delivers a child are known to be associated with the development of DIC and include placental abruption, severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, retained dead fetus, hypovolemia, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, amniotic fluid embolism, placenta previa, HELLP syndrome, delayed miscarriage, and septicemia. Several alterations occur in clotting factors and other substances involved with the clotting process during a woman's pregnancy. These alterations result in a normal elevation of clotting factors and a mild hypercoagulable state that usually disseminates within several months following childbirth. When a complication during or following childbirth occurs that involves massive hemorrhage despite the natural preparations the body has made, the excessive loss of blood in combination with existing hypercoagulability can trigger DIC. In such cases, the body experiences widespread fibrin displacement due to system-wide activation of the coagulation cascade. Clots form in the microvessels and can cause organic failure.

Get familiar with something that is both a cause as well as a complication of disseminated intravascular coagulation next.