A client with septic shock develops disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which pathophysiologic process should the nurse recognize as the cause of the coagulation problem?

A. Depletion of clotting factors occurs in DIC as the coagulation cascade is activated, leading to the formation of clots and subsequent consumption of clotting factors, which can result in bleeding. B. Activation of complement pathways is part of the immune response but does not directly explain the coagulopathy seen in DIC. C. Production of extra platelets may occur, but in DIC, platelets are consumed more rapidly than they can be produced, contributing to bleeding risks. D. Inhibition of red blood production is not directly related to the coagulation issues seen in DIC; rather, it relates more to the overall effects of shock and organ dysfunction.