THE TERMS defibrination syndrome1 and consumption coagulopathy2 have been used to describe the condition manifested clinically by an abnormal bleeding tendency and involving decreased fibrinogen, platelets, factor II (prothrombin), factor V (proaccelerin), and factor VIII (antihemophilic globulin). This entity has been associated with numerous clinical conditions including sepsis,1 extensive surgery and secondary bleeding,1 hemolysis,2 abruptio placentae,3 and neoplasms.4 Review articles1,2 on the defibrination syndrome do not cite dissecting aneurysm as an associated condition.
We have observed a patient with a dissecting aneurysm of the aorta who had coagulation defects suggestive of the defibrination syndrome. This report appears to be the first case study associating dissecting aneurysm with coagulation defects.
Report of a Case
A 51-year-old Negro woman was seen in the emergency room of the Jewish Hospital of Brooklyn on Jan 9, 1966, because of "aching" pain in the left knee. Approximately five hours prior to admission, the patient experienced