Edited by Prof Satoshi Gando
This article collection is published in Journal of Intensive Care. A half century ago, the concept of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was ridiculed to be an abbreviation for Disseminated International Confusion, because intravascular fibrin thrombosis was hardly ever found at autopsy. Since the end of last century, however, it has been emphasized that DIC equals a sign that “Death Is Coming”. DIC is now recognized an independent disease entity characterized by the intravascular activation of coagulation with loss of localization arising from different causes, including trauma and sepsis. It can originate from and cause damage to the microvasculature, which if sufficiently severe, can produce organ dysfunction, leading to poor prognosis of the patients.
This collection of articles has not been sponsored and articles have undergone the journal’s standard peer-review process. The Guest Editors declare no competing interests.