
DIC may be identified through various tests related to your levels of platelets
Thrombocytopenia
A condition where abnormally low level of platelets are observed.
What are the signs and symptoms of DIC?
Symptoms of DIC may include any of the following: Bleeding, from many sites in the body. Blood clots. Bruising. Drop in blood pressure. Shortness of …
How is severe DIC diagnosed and treated?
Pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the lower leg if blood clots form in the deep veins of your leg. Headaches, speech changes, paralysis (an inability to move), dizziness, and trouble speaking and understanding if blood clots form in the blood vessels in your brain. These signs and symptoms may indicate a stroke.
How do I get a copy of my va DIC letter?
Laboratory diagnosis of DIC is based on tests that demonstrate activation of coagulation and consumption of clotting factors, coagulation inhibitors and platelets. The first-line tests should ideally be simple, and readily and rapidly available. Prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times are prolonged.
How is diabetic coagulation insufficiency (DIC) diagnosed?
Get VA Form 21P-534a to download. If you’re the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran, fill out an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21P-534EZ). Get VA Form 21P-534EZ to download. If you’re a surviving parent, fill out an Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parent (s) (VA Form 21P-535).

What tests confirm DIC?
In clinical practice, a diagnosis of DIC can often be made by a combination of the following tests :Platelet count.Global clotting times (aPTT and PT)One or two clotting factors and inhibitors (eg, antithrombin)Assay for D-dimer or FDPs.Dec 6, 2020
How can you tell if a person has DIC?
Symptoms of DIC may include any of the following:Bleeding, from many sites in the body.Blood clots.Bruising.Drop in blood pressure.Shortness of breath.Confusion, memory loss or change of behavior.Fever.Sep 24, 2019
How is DIC activated?
In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), coagulation is usually activated when blood is exposed to tissue factor. In association with coagulation, the fibrinolytic pathway is also activated. DIC usually begins rapidly and causes bleeding and microvascular occlusion, leading to organ failure.
Is DIC difficult to diagnose?
The massive bleeding (consumptive) type of DIC can be diagnosed using any of the three diagnostic criteria [1, 17, 18]; however, it is difficult to diagnose the non-symptomatic type of DIC using these criteria. The use of hemostatic molecular markers is required to diagnose the non-symptomatic type of DIC.Feb 20, 2014
What are the three most common conditions associated with DIC?
DIC is linked to medical conditions such as cancer, pancreatitis and liver disorders.Sep 28, 2021
What triggers DIC?
Causes. When you are injured, proteins in the blood that form blood clots travel to the injury site to help stop bleeding. If these proteins become abnormally active throughout the body, you could develop DIC. The underlying cause is usually due to inflammation, infection, or cancer.
What interventions should be considered for patients with DIC?
Treatment of DICClotting Factor Replacement. To manage the bleeding, the physician may prescribe the replacement of clotting factors such as fibrinogen.Oxygen Therapy. Blood clots may prevent the oxygen to be delivered to the organs, especially the lungs and the heart. ... Transfusion. ... Anticoagulants.
Can you survive DIC?
The long-term outlook for people who have DIC depends on how much damage the clots may have caused to the body's tissues. About half of those with DIC survive, but some may live with organ dysfunction or the results of amputations.
How does DIC lead to bleeding?
Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a condition in which small blood clots develop throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels. The increased clotting depletes the platelets and clotting factors needed to control bleeding, causing excessive bleeding.
When do you transfuse platelets in DIC?
Platelet transfusion may be considered in patients with DIC and severe thrombocytopenia, in particular, in patients with bleeding or in patients at risk for bleeding (eg, in the early postoperative phase or if an invasive procedure is planned).
When do you give platelets in DIC?
In patients with DIC and bleeding or at high risk of bleeding (e.g. postoperative patients or patients due to undergo an invasive procedure) and a platelet count of <50 x 10(9)/l transfusion of platelets should be considered.
Am I eligible for VA DIC as a surviving spouse or dependent?
Eligibility You may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet these requirements. One of these must be true: You lived with the Veter...
What kind of benefits can I get?
If you qualify, you can get tax-free monetary benefits. The amount you receive depends on the type of survivor you are. DIC benefit rates for survi...
How do I apply for compensation?
First you’ll need to fill out an application for benefits. The application you fill out will depend on your survivor status. If you’re the survivin...
Should I submit an intent to file form?
You may want to submit an intent to file form before you apply for DIC benefits. This can give you the time you need to gather your evidence while...
DIC eligibility for survivors of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
If we denied your Blue Water Navy Veteran’s service-connected disability claim in the past, you may be eligible for DIC benefits based on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.
What kind of benefits can I get?
If you qualify, you can get tax-free monetary benefits. The amount you receive depends on the type of survivor you are.
How do I apply for compensation?
First you’ll need to fill out an application for benefits. The application you fill out will depend on your survivor status.
Other VA benefits for survivors
Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for VA pension benefits as a surviving spouse or child of a deceased Veteran with wartime service.
Treatment of DIC
When someone has DIC caused by sepsis, the primary task is to treat the sepsis and the infection that caused it. In addition to treating sepsis, the clots may have to be dissolved and new clots prevented. This may be done with heparin, an anticoagulant, often called a blood thinner.
Complications from DIC
If clots prevent blood from reaching parts of the body, tissue damage occurs. For example, if clots prevent blood from circulating properly to the hands or feet, the tissue may start to turn splotchy, then bluish in color (cyanotic), and then black (gangrenous) if the skin dies. Once the tissue has reached this stage, it must be removed.
Long-term outlook
The long-term outlook for people who have DIC depends on how much damage the clots may have caused to the body’s tissues. About half of those with DIC survive, but some may with live with organ dysfunction or the results of amputations.
pathophysiology
Normally, clots form locally at sites of vascular damage. These clots are subsequently degraded after tissue damage is repaired. The processes of clot formation and clot degradation (fibrinolysis) are localized and tightly regulated, based on a balance of counterregulatory proteins (procoagulants vs.
symptoms
DIC may be asymptomatic, or it may cause bleeding and clotting. Symptoms may be dominated by either bleeding or clotting.
causes of DIC
Certain forms of DIC tend to cause predominantly thrombosis or hemorrhage – these are indicated below.
sepsis induced coagulopathy (SIC)
Sepsis-induced coagulopathy essentially refers to DIC caused by sepsis.
management
Patients with DIC due to acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) require specific treatment described here.
questions & discussion
To keep this page small and fast, questions & discussion about this post can be found on another page here.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Servicemembers who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
Eligibility (Surviving Spouse)
To qualify for DIC, a surviving spouse must meet the requirements below.
How to Apply
Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee assist you. You can find your regional office on our Facility Locator page OR
Etiology of DIC
Disseminated intravascular coagulation usually results from exposure of tissue factor to blood, initiating the coagulation cascade . In addition, the fibrinolytic pathway is activated in DIC (see figure Fibrinolytic pathway ).
Pathophysiology of DIC
Slowly evolving DIC primarily causes venous thromboembolic manifestations (eg, deep venous thrombosis , pulmonary embolism ), although occasionally cardiac valve vegetations occur; abnormal bleeding is uncommon.
Symptoms and Signs of DIC
In slowly evolving disseminated intravascular coagulation, symptoms of venous thrombosis and/or symptoms of pulmonary embolism may be present.
Diagnosis of DIC
Platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), plasma fibrinogen, plasma D-dimer
Treatment of DIC
Immediate correction of the cause is the priority (eg, broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment of suspected gram-negative sepsis, evacuation of the uterus in abruptio placentae). If treatment is effective, disseminated intravascular coagulation should subside quickly.
Key Points
In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), coagulation is usually activated when blood is exposed to tissue factor. In association with coagulation, the fibrinolytic pathway is also activated.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
Nausea and vomiting are common adverse effects of either the cancer itself or of the treatment for cancer. Several drugs are available to administer prior to chemotherapy for anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Of these drugs, which of the following is the most effective yet the most expensive?
Surviving spouse rates if the Veteran died on or after January 1, 1993
You may also be eligible for added amounts based on certain factors. Find any descriptions in the table below that are true for you. Add the amount listed in the Added monthly amount column of each description to your monthly payment. This is your total monthly payment.
Surviving spouse rates if the Veteran died before January 1, 1993
If you're the spouse or child of a Veteran who died before January 1, 1993, we use a different method to determine your DIC monthly payment.
How DIC may affect your VA Survivors Pension or Survivor Benefit Plan
If you’re eligible for both DIC and Survivors Pension benefits, we’ll pay you whichever benefit gives you the most money. You can't get both.
More benefits for survivors
If you're the surviving spouse or child of a Veteran with wartime service, find out if you're eligible for monthly pension benefits based on your income and net worth.