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- Title
Bilateral Lower Extremity Gangrene Requiring Amputation Associated with Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia A Case Report.
- Authors
Dickinson, Brian P.; De Ugarte, Daniel A.; Reil, Todd D.; Beseth, Bryce D.; Lawrence, Peter F.
- Abstract
Heparin use, both prophylactically and therapeutically, is prevalent among hospitalized patients. Patients on heparin may develop a thrombocytopenia that is self-limited. Fewer patients develop a heparin-induced thrombocytopenia that can cause severe bleeding and thrombosis owing to intravascular platelet aggregation. The authors present a case report of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient who underwent aortic arch and aortic valve replacement that resulted in bilateral above-knee amputations. The patient developed limb ischemia related to heparin-associated thrombosis, but had a delay in antibody seroconversion. Early and accurate diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia requires a high clinical suspicion and may be present despite the absence of serum antibodies.
- Subjects
GANGRENE; LEG amputation; THROMBOCYTOPENIA; BLOOD platelet disorders; HEPARIN; ANTICOAGULANTS
- Publication
Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, 2006, Vol 40, Issue 2, p161
- ISSN
1538-5744
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/153857440604000212