title: Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
abstract: Healthy pregnancy is accompanied by changes in the haemostatic system which convert it into a hypercoagulable state vulnerable to a spectrum of disorders ranging from venous thromboembolism to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This latter is always a secondary phenomenon triggered by specific disorders such as abruptio placentae and amniotic fluid embolism due to release of thromboplastin intravascularly or endothelial damage resulting from pre-eclampsia and sepsis. In modern obstetric practice the most common cause is haemorrhagic shock with delay in resuscitation leading to endothelial damage. The initial management of massive obstetric haemorrhage is the same whether associated with coagulopathy initially or not. Low-grade DIC, associated with pre-eclampsia, is monitored haematologically by serial platelet counts and serum fibrin degradation products (FDPs). Supportive measures and removal of the triggering mechanism are the key to successful management. Outcome depends primarily on our ability to deal with the trigger and not on direct attempts to correct the coagulation deficit.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Hammersmith House, 2nd Floor, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Letsky
mesh_terms: D000032:Abortion, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects; D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010921:Placenta Accreta / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010949:Plasma; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D010952:Plasma Substitutes