Which laboratory value should a nurse report for a client at risk for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy?

The laboratory value indicating fibrinogen at 85 mg/dL is significant for a client at risk for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). In DIC, there is a pathological activation of the coagulation cascade leading to widespread clotting and subsequent consumption of clotting factors, including fibrinogen. A decrease in fibrinogen levels is a hallmark of DIC, as it is utilized in the formation of fibrin clots.

In a healthy individual, fibrinogen levels are typically between 200-400 mg/dL; hence, a level of 85 mg/dL would indicate a critically low state. This not only suggests an increased risk for bleeding due to a consumption coagulopathy but also highlights the urgency for intervention and monitoring in a patient suspected of having DIC.

Other laboratory values mentioned, such as platelets, PT, and PTT, while important, do not immediately indicate the same level of risk associated with fibrinogen levels. Normal platelet counts, PT, and even elevated PTT may not be as indicative of DIC in its early stages or may reflect other coagulopathy conditions. Therefore, the low fibrinogen level serves as a more direct alarm for impending complications related to