Unusual onset of venous thromboembolism and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient with essential thrombocythemia.

Abstract

Essential thrombocythemia is a hematological disorder characterized by clonal hemopoiesis in the bone marrow and increased number of circulating platelets. It is usually discovered accidentally at the time of routine blood examinations or can become clinically evident with either thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications. In the present article, we describe the case of a 66-year-old woman with pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii, who experienced deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism during hospitalization with a subsequent heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow examination performed after clinical improvement revealed the patient to be affected by essential thrombocythemia.

• Authors: Mario Lapecorella, Alessandro Lucchesi, Mauro Di Ianni, Mariasanta Napolitano, Gino Coletti, Gabriella Di Leonardo, Luigi Dell'Orso, Remo Barnabei, Guglielmo Mariani
• Journal: Blood coagulation & fibrinolysis : an international journal in haemostasis and thrombosis (Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 85-90 (Jan 2010) ISSN: 1473-5733 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19923984 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Polysaccharides
• Platelet Factor 4
• Warfarin
• Heparin
• Fondaparinux

Topics

• Aged
• Anticoagulants (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fondaparinux
• Heparin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Incidental Findings
• Platelet Factor 4 (immunology)
• Pneumonia, Pneumocystis (complications)
• Polysaccharides (therapeutic use)
• Pulmonary Embolism (drug therapy, etiology)
• Thrombocythemia, Essential (complications, diagnosis)
• Thrombocytopenia (chemically induced, immunology)
• Thrombophlebitis (drug therapy, etiology)
• Warfarin (therapeutic use)