ASA-Induced Hypoprothrombinemia: A Case Report

An elderly man suffered a gastrointestinal bleed associated with prolonged prothrombin time while convalescing from surgical treatment of a fractured hip. He had been taking ASA for 19 days prior to the GI bleed.The prothrombin time was restored to normal within 24 hours following administration of Vitamin K. The bleeding stopped and did not recur. No bleeding site was identified, but the patient did have a previous history of duodenal ulceration.Hypoprothrombinemia as a consequence of ASA therapy is a rare cause of bleeding but should be considered in appropriate cases, since it is readily reversible.