Pathophysiology Question: Thrombosis and Hemorrhage

Question

How does the widespread thrombosis lead to hemorrhage in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?

Answer 1

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is what is called a "consumptive coagulopathy" usually the result of an underlying pathology (disease state). DIC is characterized by abnormal activation of the clotting pathways. This inappropriate clotting uses all the bodies platelets and clotting factor and thus once used up; the body can no longer clot and will spontaneously bleed.

Causes of DIC include endotoxins, amniotic fluid embolism, trauma, pancreatitis, malignancy, nephrotic syndromes, transfusions.