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

Excessive Bleeding

Excessive bleeding is known not only as a potential cause of DIC, but it is also a serious and life-threatening complication that arises in a portion of affected individuals. The increased coagulability in disseminated intravascular coagulation patients leads to the formation of numerous clots in the microvessels throughout the body. In acute cases, there is a point where the increased clotting activity exceeds the availability of clotting resources such as platelets and clotting factors. Clotting activity exhausts platelets and clotting proteins to the extent where limited amounts are left to carry out normal clotting processes when they are actually needed. This malfunction can cause the patient to experience varying degrees of internal and or external bleeding. Internal bleeding can happen in tissues of the individual's brain, kidneys, and intestines. External bleeding has been reported from or underneath the patient's skin and mucosa. Blood in the urine, blood in the stool, headaches, seizures, and double vision are symptoms reported in cases where DIC has been complicated by excessive bleeding.