Final answer:
Peripheral smear results in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) typically display schistocytes, which are fragments of red blood cells that indicate mechanical destruction by clot-filled small vessels.
Correct option is A
Step-by-step explanation:
The peripheral smear results in a patient with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), which is also referred to as consumption coagulopathy, would most likely show the presence of schistocytes. Schistocytes are fragmented parts of red blood cells, often found in this condition due to the mechanical destruction of red blood cells as they pass through the small vessels filled with clots. These clots, or thrombus, are composed of an aggregation of fibrin, platelets, and erythrocytes within the damaged vasculature.
The presence of schistocytes on a peripheral smear is a key diagnostic indicator of DIC, as this condition entails widespread coagulation and subsequent hemorrhage due to the consumption of coagulation factors and platelets.