Question

You are caring for a patient with severe sepsis and ARDS. The lab results show that her INR and aPTT are elevated while her platelet count and fibrinogen are elevated. The laboratory calls and reports the D-dimer is severely elevated. Your next action is to report your suspicion for:

a. DIC.

b. HIT.

c. ITP.

d. TTP.

Answer 1

In Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, prolonged coagulation time, Thrombocytopenia, high level of fibrin degradation products and elevated D-dimer level.

due to sepsis, an inflammatory response will occur, which may lead to organ failure and the coagulation and fibrinolysis lead to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood vessels. (disseminated intravascular coagulation)

ITP( Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) main characteristic is isolated thrombocytopenia

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura shows aPTT level would be normal and d -dimer test also shows a slight elevation