Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting are abnormally active.

Normally, when you are injured, certain proteins are turned on and travel to the injury site to help stop bleeding. However, in persons with DIC, these proteins are abnormally active. Small blood clots form throughout the body. Overtime, the clotting proteins become "used up" and are unavailable during times of real injury.

This disorder can result in clots or, more often, bleeding. Bleeding can be severe.

Risk factors for DIC include:

• Blood transfusion reaction
• Cancer, including leukemia
• Infection in the blood by bacteria or fungus
• Pregnancy complications (such as retained placenta after delivery)
• Recent surgery or anesthesia
• Sepsis
• Severe liver disease
• Severe tissue injury (as in burns and head injury)

• Bleeding, possibly from multiple sites in the body
• Blood clots
• Sudden bruising

• Serum fibrinogen - low
• Prothrombin time (PT) - high
• Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) - high
• Platelet count