The most common cause of coagulation problems is a deficiency in the number of circulating platelets, a condition termed thrombocytopenia. Possible causes include aplastic anemia, infections, cancer of the bone marrow, or agents that destroy bone marrow, such as x-rays or certain drugs. This disorder results in bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes, variously described as petechiae, ecchymoses, and purpura.

In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) there is widespread clotting in the vessels, which obstructs circulation to the tissues. This is followed by diffuse hemorrhages as clotting factors are removed and the coagulation process is impaired. DIC may result from a variety of causes, including infection, cancer, hemorrhage, injury, or allergy.

Hemophilia is a hereditary deficiency of a specific clotting factor. It is a sex-linked disease that is passed from mother to son. There is bleeding into the tissues, especially into the joints (hemarthrosis). Hemophilia must be treated with transfusions of the necessary clotting factor.

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