Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis in a patient with polycythemia vera.

Abstract

A 75-year-old Japanese woman with polycythemia vera was admitted to our hospital in January 2003 with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism. After administration of heparin, platelet count decreased from 1,694 x 10(9)/l on admission to 60 x 10(9)/l on hospital day 14. The patient developed acute limb embolism and transient cerebral ischemic attack on days 17 and 25, respectively. Signs and symptoms mimicked those of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Antibodies against heparin and platelet factor 4 complexes were detected in serum, and a diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis was made. Argatroban treatment improved thrombocytopenia and hypercoagulable state.

• Authors: Tatsuyuki Hayashi, Yuki Suyama, Mitsunobu Kaneko, Juri Okamura, Yutaka Nakao, Yasunobu Nonaka, Takeo Nomura
• Journal: Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) (Intern Med) Vol. 43 Issue 7 Pg. 587-9 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 0918-2918 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15335186 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pipecolic Acids
• Sulfonamides
• Heparin
• Arginine
• argatroban

Topics

• Aged
• Arginine (analogs & derivatives)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Heparin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Japan
• Pipecolic Acids (administration & dosage)
• Polycythemia Vera (complications, diagnosis)
• Pulmonary Embolism (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sulfonamides
• Thrombocytopenia (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy)
• Thrombosis (chemically induced, complications, drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome