Acquired Coagulopathies: Current Approaches to Differential Diagnosis and Intensive Care in the Context of Evidence-Based Medicine

Abstract

Acquired coagulopathies are one of the commonest syndromes of critical conditions. According to the data available in the literature, the clinical signs of coagulopathy (bleedings) are observed in 16% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, its laboratory signs are seen in 66% of ICU patients. While on the subject of acquired coagulopathies, consideration must be given not only to the disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) syndrome as the most frequently encountered coaglopathy, but also to many other hemostatic disorders having their laboratory diagnostic criteria and accordingly the specific features of intensive care, the differential diagnosis of identified acquired coagulopathies remaining the corner-stone. In the context of evidence-based evidence, the literature review presents the basic principles of the differential diagnosis and intensive therapy of the following acquired coagulopathies: different types of thrombocytopenias, thrombocytopathies, DIC syndrome, hemodilu-tion, hepatic, and uremic coagulopathies, overdosage of direct (heparin) and indirect (warfarin) anticoagulants.

Keywords

• acquired coagulopathies
• thrombocytopenia
• thrombocytopathies
• overdosage of anticoagulants
• disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome