Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) - Answers A condition involving systemic
activation of blood clotting, leading to clot formation, depletion of clotting factors, and bleeding.
Key signs of DIC - Answers Bleeding, bruising, petechiae, oozing from IV sites, and organ
dysfunction due to microclots.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) - Answers An immune-mediated reaction to heparin
causing a severe drop in platelets and increased clotting risk.
Type 1 and Type 2 HIT - Answers Type 1 is non-immune and mild; Type 2 is immune-mediated,
serious, and can cause thrombosis.
HIT appearance after heparin therapy starts - Answers Usually 5-14 days after initiation; faster if
patient was previously exposed to heparin.
Sickle Cell Anemia - Answers A genetic disorder causing abnormal hemoglobin that leads to
misshapen RBCs and blockages in small vessels.
Complications of sickle cell anemia - Answers Vaso-occlusive crises, stroke, acute chest
syndrome, infection risk, and organ damage.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) - Answers A life-threatening condition where cancer treatment
causes rapid tumor breakdown, leading to electrolyte imbalances.
Lab findings in TLS - Answers Hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia.
Signs of TLS - Answers Muscle cramps, seizures, tetany (positive Chvostek/Trousseau), ECG
changes, renal failure.
Anemia of Critical Illness - Answers A common, multifactorial anemia in ICU patients due to
inflammation, poor RBC production, and blood loss.
Pathophysiology of HIT - Answers Heparin binds to platelet factor 4 → new antigen forms →
IgG antibody binds → immune complex triggers platelet activation → thrombosis.
Hallmark lab finding of HIT - Answers Sudden drop in platelet count (usually >50% from
baseline), especially during or after heparin use.
First step in treating HIT - Answers Immediately stop all forms of heparin and initiate a non-
heparin anticoagulant (like argatroban).
Cause of hyperuricemia in Tumor Lysis Syndrome - Answers Massive cell lysis releases nucleic
acids, which are metabolized to uric acid.
Why TLS causes hypocalcemia - Answers Released phosphate binds calcium, forming calcium