A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) during a fatal Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is reported. The results of several laboratory investigations suggested the presence of an autoimmune abnormality. Recurrence of DIC in the final period may have been due to circulating complement activating immune complexes.

Several coagulation parameters were examined in 82 patients with hepatic cirrhosis. An increase of F VIII levels was found in 72 % of the cases. This raise was not correlated with the gravity, nor with the etiology of the hepatic cirrhosis. Increased serum fibrin‐flbrinogen degradation products were found in 11 cases (13 %). Only 3 of them also had a hypofibrinogenaemia. It is concluded that the frequency and the intensity of clinically important disseminated intravascular coagulation or of primary fibrinolysis, both described in hepatic cirrhosis, are quite low.

SummarySerum fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products were determined during the first 24 hours after admission to an intensive care unit in 284 patients.Serum-FDP levels were increased in various pathological conditions : myocardial infarction, acute left ventricular failure, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory failure. severe burns, sepsis and pulmonary embolism.The early determination in patients with myocardial infarction may have some prognostic value as suggested by a striking increase in mortality when the serum-FDP levels were augmented.