Disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with meningococcal infection: laboratory diagnosis and prognostic factors.

In 36 patients with meningococcal infection a close association between the laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and unfavourable prognostic factors was established. Patients with platelet count lessthan 100000/microliter, Normotest lessthan 50% and plasma fibrinogen concentration less than 100 mg/dl had a serious prognosis. No significant differences could be extablished between patients with infection from serogroup A and B meningococci for either laboratory evidence of DIC or prognostic factors.