Arterial thromboembolism in patients receiving systemic heparin therapy
- 1 December 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
- Vol. 59 (8), 1061-1064
- https://doi.org/10.2106/00004623-197759080-00010
Abstract
Arterial thromboembolism is a recognized complication of systemic heparin therapy. Characteristic of the entity is arterial occlusion by platelet-fibrin thrombi with distal ischemia occurring four to twenty days after the initiation of heparin therapy, preceded by profound thrombocytopenia with platelet counts in the range of 30,000 to 40,000 per cubic millimeter. The clinically apparent occlusion may be preceded by gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal symptoms that appear to be ischemic in origin, and might serve to warn the clinician of these complications. Previous reports of these phenomena as well as recent studies of the effect of heparin are reviewed. The common factor relating thromboembolism and thrombocytopenia is heparin-induced platelet aggregation. Appropriate treatment consists of discontinuation of heparin, and anticoagulation with sodium warfarin if necessary. Vascular procedures are performed as indicated.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Thrombocytopenia Occurring During the Administration of HeparinAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1976
- Heparin-Induced Immune ThrombocytopeniaNew England Journal of Medicine, 1976
- Heparin-Induced ThrombocytopeniaAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1969