Which of the following are not observed when a patient is in DIC?

• A. Hemorrhage
• B. Prolonged activated clotting time
• C. Icterus
• D. Thrombocytopenia

Answer: (C)

Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a consumption coagulopathy where widespread activation of clotting leads to rapid use of platelets and coagulation factors, causing both clots and bleeding. In this state you typically see bleeding manifestations, prolonged clotting times (PT/aPTT or ACT), and low platelet counts due to consumption. Evidence of fibrinolysis, such as elevated D-dimer, is also common. Icterus, or jaundice, is not a defining feature of DIC; it points more to liver dysfunction or hemolysis and is not essential to or characteristic of the process. So icterus would not be observed as a typical finding in DIC, whereas hemorrhage, prolonged clotting times, and thrombocytopenia would be.