Summary.The significance of precipitating causes of acute disseminated intra‐vascular coagulation (DIC) and the severity of derangement of haemostasis based on laboratory investigations carried out initially were evaluated in 98 patients and was related to the fatal outcome in them. It was seen that septicaemia was the commonest precipating cause. Survival was better in patients in whom DIC was precipitated by obstetric causes compared with those with septicaemia (P2.5) as compared to their lower values (P1.5. It is concluded that deranged haemostasis and presence of septicaemia both independent of each other, contribute to the fatal outcome in acute DIC. Combination of both is associated with poorest prognosi