[Severe bleeding from a cavernous hemangioma of the liver during treatment with streptokinase]

Severe bleeding from a subcapsular flat haemangioma of the liver occurred in a 32-year-old woman receiving streptokinase infusion for suspected femoral vein thrombosis. The bleeding was diagnosed by ultrasound undertaken because of atypical upper abdominal symptoms: the cause of the bleeding remained unexplained. Only after the streptokinase infusion had been discontinued were there clinical signs of bleeding, which during preparation for laparotomy led to shock. After segmental resection of the left lobe of the liver and an complicated post-operative course the patient left hospital in good condition.