A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which laboratory finding would indicate the client's coagulation factors are depleted?

Rationale: A. A normal or shortened prothrombin time (PT) indicates that the extrinsic coagulation pathway is functioning properly. In DIC, PT is usually prolonged due to depletion of clotting factors. A PT of 10 seconds is within or slightly below normal, so it does not indicate factor depletion. B. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product that increases when there is active clot breakdown. In DIC, D-dimer is usually elevated, often several times higher than normal. A value of 0.5 mcg/mL is normal or low, suggesting minimal fibrinolytic activity, not depletion of clotting factors. C. DIC is characterized by widespread clot formation and consumption of clotting factors and platelets, leading to thrombocytopenia. A platelet count of 100,000/mm³ (below the normal range of 150,000–400,000/mm³) indicates depletion of platelets, reflecting consumption coagulopathy. This is a hallmark of DIC and a critical indicator that coagulation factors are being used up faster than they can be replenished. D. Normal fibrinogen levels range from approximately 200–400 mg/dL. In DIC, fibrinogen levels are often decreased due to consumption in widespread clotting. A level of 400 mg/dL is normal or high, and does not suggest depletion of coagulation factors.