Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a rare life-threatening condition wherein small blood clots develop throughout the bloodstream causing depletion in the platelets and factors essential to control bleeding resulting to excessive bleeding.

D-Dimer test helps determine if the person’s blood is clotting normally. This is done by measuring released fibrin as the blood clots break up. Prothrombin time measures the time it takes for the blood to clot. Complete Blood Count (CBC) provides information that can help the doctor to make a diagnosis. Fibrinogen is a blood test that can measure the amount of fibrinogens present in the blood; low fibrinogen level may indicate disseminated intravascular coagulation/

Treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation depends on the medical condition that caused it to happen. Treatment of the underlying condition may result to improvement of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Blood transfusion is sometimes necessary to replenish blood loss and blood clotting factors utilized by the body.

The condition develops abruptly and usually causes severe bleeding that is totally uncontrollable following a surgery or childbirth. Other locations of bleeding may include the site of an intravenous injection, digestive tract, brain, body cavities, and muscles of the skin.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation happens because the body’s capacity to control blood clotting does not function properly which is usually caused by health conditions including infection, severe trauma from injury, pregnancy complications and some cancers.