Müller MCA, Dujardin RWG, Thachil J, et al. - Researchers assumed that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) can occur when neutrophil extracellular trap formation becomes uncontrolled in relation to low fibrinogen levels. The study enrolled a total of 64 critically ill coagulopathic patients to compare the ratio of both circulating nucleosomes and human neutrophil elastase alpha-1-antitrypsine complexes to fibrinogen with thrombocytopenia, DIC and organ failure. The outcomes demonstrate the hypothesis that fibrinogen is protective against DIC by counterbalancing excessive neutrophil activation.