DefinitionDisseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become abnormally active.Alternative NamesConsumption coagulopathyCauses, incidence, and risk factorsNormally, when you are injured, certain proteins in the blood become activated and travel to the injury site to help stop bleeding. However, in persons with DIC, these proteins become abnormally active. This often occurs due to inflammation, infection, or cancer.Small blood clots form within the blood vessels. Some of these clots can clog up the vessels and cut off blood supply to various organs such as the liver, brain, or kidney. These organs will then stop functioning. Over time, the clotting proteins become "used up." When this happens, the person is then at ris