What is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?

Acquired clinicopathological syndrome characterized by systemic activation of coagulation that may cause organ-damaging thrombosis and/or hemorrhage due to consumption of coagulation factors and platelets. Defined by ISTH as “an acquired syndrome characterized by the intravascular activation of coagulation with a loss of localization arising from different causes; can originate from and cause damage to the microvasculature, which if sufficiently severe, can produce organ dysfunction”.