Disseminated intravascular coagulation in the pathogenesis of adult respiratory distress syndrome: 1. Clinical study.

The correlation between disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and pulmonary insufficiency following trauma and shock was studied in patients. Serial coagulation tests were performed on nine patients suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and six of nine showed the evidence of consumption coagulopathy. Heparin infusion was effective in two patients with the improvement of platelet counts, other coagulation factors and the concomitant improvement of lung function.