Summary
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common phenomenon in patients with
sepsis, but the clinical implications of this condition are not clear. Clinical trials
with coagulation inhibitors have failed to show a significant benefit concerning survival.
DIC is primarily a laboratory diagnosis, based on the combination of elevated fibrin-related
markers (FRM), with decreased procoagulant factors and platelets. Non-overt DIC is
observed in most patients with sepsis, whereas overt DIC is less frequent. Patients
with overt DIC may display consumption coagulopathy and purpura fulminans. Consumption
coagulopathy is a bleeding disorder caused by low levels of platelets and procoagulant
factors associated with massive coagulation activation. Purpura fulminans is caused
by widespread microvascular thrombosis, resulting in tissue necrosis. Treatment with
drotrecogin alfa (activated) improves survival and other outcome parameters in severe
sepsis, including a subgroup of patients fulfilling the laboratory criteria of overt
DIC. No randomized trials demonstrating effective therapies in consumption coagulopathy
have been published. Bleeding patients with consumption coagulopathy are most frequently
treated with platelet transfusions and various plasma products including fresh frozen
plasma and coagulation factor concentrates. Based on case reports, treatment with
drotrecogin alfa (activated) or substitution of protein C have been recommended for
adjuvant treatment of sepsis-related purpura fulminans.
Keywords
Sepsis - disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - purpura fulminans - drotrecogin
alfa (activated) - antithrombin