Oncology Certified Nurse Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is a complex disorder characterized by the widespread activation of the clotting cascade, which leads to the formation of small blood clots throughout the body's small vessels. As a result of this process, various laboratory changes are noted in DIC.

One of the key laboratory findings in DIC is the increase in D-dimer levels. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product, and its elevation indicates that there has been an excessive breakdown of fibrin, which is a direct consequence of the coagulation process being activated and the subsequent formation and breakdown of clots.

Alongside this, a decrease in platelet count is also observed. In DIC, platelets are consumed as they aggregate at thrombus sites, leading to thrombocytopenia, which is a low platelet count. The combination of increased D-dimer levels and decreased platelet counts is indicative of the coagulopathy seen in DIC.

The other options present laboratory findings that do not align with what is known about DIC. A decrease in D-dimer and an increase in fibrinogen would not be observed in DIC, as fibrinogen levels typically drop during the active phase of this condition due to consumption