DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION - A disorder that includes accelerated platelet consumption with coagulation factor depletion (prolongation of PT and PTT), and stimulation of fibrinolysis (generation of fibrin split products). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) can be caused by severe bacterial infections (sepsis), extensive burns, trauma, retained dead fetus, heat stroke, mismatched blood transfusion, metastatic cancer, and some forms of leukemia. Manifests with severe bleeding and bruising.