[Disseminated intravascular coagulation--pathophysiology].

The main cause of DIC (disseminated intravascular syndrome) is contact of tissue factor with circulating blood. The main symptoms of DIC are bleeding diathesis caused by consumption coagulopathy and organ dysfunction related to circulatory disturbances due to multiple thrombi. However, the symptoms of DIC differ according to degree of fibrinolysis which is characterized by causal disease of DIC. Usually, enhanced fibrinolysis does not cause organ failure but hemorrhagic diathesis, while impaired fibrinolysis does not cause severe bleeding but organ dysfunction. In almost all cases of acute leukemia and in some cases of solid cancer with DIC, hyperfibrinolysis is common. In cases of severe infection with DIC, impaired fibrinolysis due to abnormal elevation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is frequently seen.