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Published on: June 2, 2015
Recurrent deep vein thrombosis despite warfarin therapy in a patient with Crohn's disease
Pablo R Lopez1, David W Stewart, Roger D Smalligan
1Department of Internal Medicine, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA. pablolopezmd@gmail.com
Insights
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a higher risk of blood clots. Even on warfarin, a Crohn's patient experienced a new deep vein thrombosis, highlighting the need for vigilance in managing IBD-related thromboembolic events.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hematology
- Clinical Case Study
Background:
- Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit an elevated risk of thromboembolic events.
- Long-term warfarin therapy is often effective for managing recurrent thromboembolic events in high-risk IBD patients.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old woman with Crohn's disease developed a new deep vein thrombosis.
- Despite meticulous international normalized ratio (INR) management, anticoagulation with warfarin was insufficient to prevent recurrence.
Findings:
- The patient required an inferior vena cava filter in addition to warfarin to prevent recurrent pulmonary emboli.
- This case underscores the complex interplay between IBD, anticoagulation, and thrombosis.
Implications:
- Physicians should maintain a low threshold for diagnosing thromboembolic events in IBD patients, even those on anticoagulation.
- Understanding contributing factors to hypercoagulability in IBD is crucial for optimizing patient care and preventing thrombotic events.
Abstract:
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are known to have an increased propensity for thromboembolic events. Like any patient with a high risk of event recurrence, most of these patients can be managed successfully with long-term warfarin therapy. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with Crohn's disease who, despite careful attention to the management of her international normalized ratio, developed a new deep vein thrombosis and required inferior vena cava filter placement in addition to ongoing warfarin therapy to prevent recurrent pulmonary emboli. This report serves as a reminder to physicians to have a low threshold for diagnosing thromboembolic events in patients with IBD, even if they are presumed to be adequately anticoagulated. Known and theoretical contributing factors to this increased clotting tendency are also reviewed.
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