[The disseminated intravascular coagulation. Diagnosis and therapy on a medical intensive care unit (author's transl)].

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a frequent acquired disorder of haemostasis in the patients at the medical intensive care unit. The pathogenesis, the different possible clinical manifestations and the obligatory laboratory tests are reviewed. In addition to the treatment of the underlying disease, the importance of adequate restoration of fluid volume and early administration of heparin is stressed.