blood components
Last reviewed 01/2018
The blood components which are most commonly given to patients with DIC are:
- platelets
- fresh frozen plasma:
- a good source of fibrinogen, clotting factors and anticoagulants such as antithrombin and protein C
- cryoprecipitate:
- a source of fibrinogen used only if fresh frozen plasma is insufficient to maintain fibrinogen levels above 0.5 g/l
The following are widely accepted indications for administering blood components:
- active bleeding
- invasive procedures
Regimes include:
- when the platelet count is below 50x10^9/l give 1 unit of platelets per 10 kg
- fresh frozen plasma is given in doses of 15 ml/kg
The effect of treatment on the clotting function should be assessed immediately and after several hours to assess the severity of the consumptive coagulopathy.