DIC syndrome as an excessive defensive reaction of the body

This type of hemorrhagic diathesis occurs most often in the practice of a doctor, since it refers to secondary, acquired forms of hemorrhage. It is called disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, or DIC. The frequency of occurrence of this disease is due to the extensive list of causes that could cause a hypertrophied reaction of the body to damage to blood vessels. DIC can be life-threatening if it causes extensive internal bleeding that is difficult to stop.

Why DIC develops in patients

The essence of DIC is   the fact that when blood vessels are damaged, which can occur during operations, injuries, burns, difficult childbirth, some internal diseases, the body gives out a hypertrophied protective reaction: there is an increased stimulation of the coagulation system of hemostasis, at the same time it is depleted & nbsp; its anticoagulant and fibrinolytic systems. As a result, some factors appear in the bloodstream (sometimes they can be toxins, enzymes, immune complexes, phospholipids, stress catecholamines), which are directly involved in the process of blood coagulation, actively enhancing it.

The following external factors that accidentally enter the bloodstream can become activators of blood coagulation:

• amniotic fluid;
• taking certain medications (eg, oral contraceptives, diuretics);
• certain organic poisons (e.g. snakebite).

The development of DIC is also facilitated by viral and bacterial acute infections, a state of shock of any nature, extensive injuries and operations (for example, with connection of artificial circulation or replacement of a heart valve), organ transplantation, caesarean section, allergies, metastatic tumors.

Dangers associated with the development of DIC

DIC occurs in the practice of surgeons, combustiologists, obstetrician-gynecologists and other specialists whose work is related to the treatment of patients who may have damaged blood vessels. These damages can occur in a variety of situations – due to injuries, operations, diseases, but each time the body in response begins to intensively form loose blood clots in the microcirculatory network. If the internal organs are densely supplied with such a microcirculatory circulatory network (for example, the kidneys, lungs, liver), then DIC can lead to their acute dysfunction.

In addition, with DIC, substances are released into the blood that trigger an enhanced clotting process. Further, due to the excessive consumption of platelets and plasma, fibrinogen deficiency is formed, the hemostatic process loses its balance, and blood clotting slows down, and sometimes this process becomes impossible at all, which threatens with massive intractable internal bleeding.

DIC can be localized or affect the entire body, develop at lightning speed or gradually, be chronic or recur periodically.

The acute manifest form of the syndrome can cause a shock in a patient with pulmonary edema, hypotension, loss of consciousness and a very poor prognosis in a few hours. Especially often this happens when vascular embolism occurs with amniotic fluid. The most common is chronic & nbsp; a form of DIC that is almost asymptomatic but eventually leads to organ damage.

Typical external manifestations of DIC

The doctor should be alerted by such manifestations of the disease as a pinpoint hemorrhagic rash on the skin, increased bleeding where the injection was made, pale marbled skin, cold to the touch, sometimes bloody discharge from the mucous membranes occurs ("bloody tears"). The earlier the correct diagnosis is made, the higher the chances of success in treating the disease.

Thus, the prognosis for the course and treatment of DSV syndrome depends on the causes that caused its development, and on the correctly chosen treatment tactics to prevent severe complications.