Disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Abstract

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious, life-threatening condition in humans and animals.A secondary complication in a variety of disorders, it is a complex syndrome in which excessive intravascular coagulation leads to microthromboses in and consequential failure of multiple organs with concurrent paradoxical bleeding due to inactivation and excessive consumption of platelets and clotting factors. This article discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of DIC in dogs and cats. Novel treatments and laboratory tests, some of which are still being experimentally evaluated, are also discussed.