Disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with disseminated cryptococcosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is uncommon in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), despite the high incidence of infectious diseases. We describe an HIV-infected patient presenting with disseminated cryptococcosis, who had clear-cut laboratory evidence of progressively worsening DIC (thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, hypofibrinogenemia, increased fibrin(ogen) degradation products and D-Dimer, reduced antithrombin III), although the clinical signs of the disease were rather scarce. The patient died despite intense treatment, which included heparin and fresh frozen plasma, and DIC was confirmed histologically. It is suggested that, in a patient with AIDS presenting with an opportunistic infection, laboratory signs of DIC should be carefully checked to early recognize this complication and promptly initiate the required therapy.