Sepsis and DIC

Disseminated intravascular coagulation, or DIC, is a complicated condition that can occur when someone has severe sepsis or septic shock. Both blood clotting and difficulty with clotting may occur, causing a vicious cycle. Small blood clots can develop throughout your bloodstream, especially in the microscopic blood vessels called capillaries. This blocks the blood flow to many parts of your body, including your limbs and your organs. Blood is then not able to bring oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.

On the reverse side of the cycle, DIC can increase bleeding. The body uses up so many of the blood clotting proteins for the multiple blood clots in the blood vessels that there are not enough left to clot the blood elsewhere.

Several medical conditions can cause DIC, including sepsis. DIC affects about 35% of patients who have sepsis.

Sepsis, which was often called blood poisoning, is the body’s life-threatening response to infection. Like strokes or heart attacks, sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Suggested Citation:
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. 2023. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/disseminated-intravascular-coagulation-dic/

Updated December 15, 2023.

 

More About DIC

Symptoms
  • Blood clots
  • Bruising, mottling of the skin
  • Drop in blood pressure
  • Bleeding, from many sites in the body
Treatment

When someone has DIC caused by sepsis, the first important task is to treat the sepsis and the infection that caused it. Treating the clots is also important though. Heparin, an anticoagulant (often called a blood thinner), usually dissolves clots and prevents new ones from forming. When someone receives heparin, their blood is tested regularly for its ability to clot – whether it is clotting too quickly or not quickly enough – so the heparin dose can be adjusted as needed.

A transfusion of platelets may be necessary. Platelets are a component of your blood that helps form clots.

Complications

If blood can’t reach some parts of the body, this causes tissue damage. For example, if blood doesn’t circulate properly to the hands or feet, the tissue may start to turn splotchy, then bluish in color (cyanotic), and then black (gangrenous) if the skin dies.  Once the tissue is at this stage, it must be removed. For some people, this may be a small patch of skin or a few fingers or toes. For others, it could mean the amputation of one or more limbs.

If blood doesn’t reach vital organs like your kidneys, liver, or lungs, they can’t function. For example, your kidneys will not be able to filter urine effectively. When this happens, you may need dialysis. Or, if you have difficulty breathing because of DIC, you may need a ventilator, a machine that pushes air into your lungs, effectively breathing for you.

The long-term outlook for people who have DIC depends on how much damage the clots caused to the body’s tissues. About half of those with DIC survive, but some may live with organ dysfunction or the results of amputations.

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Other Topics

Septic Shock

Septic shock is the final, most severe form of sepsis and also the most difficult to treat.

Sepsis Alliance Connect

A virtual support community designed for the millions of people affected by sepsis.

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Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

    Disseminated intravascular coagulation, or DIC, is a complicated condition that can occur when someone has severe sepsis or septic shock. Both blood clotting and difficulty with clotting may occur, causing a vicious cycle. Small blood clots can develop throughout your bloodstream, especially in the microscopic blood vessels called capillaries, blocking the blood flow to many parts of your body, including your limbs and your organs. This blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. On the reverse side of the cycle, DIC can increase bleeding. The body uses up so many of the blood clotting proteins for the multiple blood clots in the blood vessels that there are not enough left to clot the blood elsewhere.

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