A 68-Year-Old Man Is Admitted with a Left Lower Lobe

A 68-year-old man is admitted with a left lower lobe pneumonia and is started on antibiotics.  He has a long history of diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.  He also has diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and nephropathy.  He has an arterio-venous fistula placed for a possible dialysis.  Medications are insulin, furosemide, atorvastatin, metoprolol and levothyroxine.  After having his blood drawn for some laboratory studies today, he bleeds persistently.  Laboratory studies show: His baseline creatinine level is between 3.2-3.5 mg/dL.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of his bleeding?

A) Disseminated intravascular coagulation
B) Platelet dysfunction
C) Factor VIII deficiency
D) Consumptive coagulopathy
E) Thrombocytopenia

Correct Answer:

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