Recent acquisitions in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation

Massimo Franchini¹ , Giuseppe Lippi² and Franco Manzato³

¹Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione – Centro Emofilia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Verona, Italy

²Istituto di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Morfologiche, Università di Verona, Verona, italy

³Laboratorio di Analisi Chimico-Cliniche, Ospedale C. Poma, Mantova, Italy

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Thrombosis Journal 2006, 4:4doi:10.1186/1477-9560-4-4


Published:	21 February 2006

Abstract

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder characterized by both acute generalized, widespread activation of coagulation, which results in thrombotic complications due to the intravascular formation of fibrin, and diffuse hemorrhages, due to the consumption of platelets and coagulation factors. Systemic activation of coagulation may occur in a variety of disorders, including sepsis, severe infections, malignancies, obstetric or vascular disorders, and severe toxic or immunological reactions.

In this review, we briefly report the present knowledge about the pathophysiology and diagnosis of DIC. Particular attention is also given to the current standard and experimental therapies of overt DIC.