[Hemorrhage complicating heparin treatment in a patient with myxedema]

A 75 year-old woman was admitted for a myxoedematous coma. Treatment included a prophylactic administration of low molecular weight heparin. During recovery from coma she experienced pain in her right calf. The anticoagulant therapy was switched to subcutaneous calcium heparin. However, the latter had to be discontinued due to the formation of a haematoma of a thigh. Clinical and biological data were in favour of a mechanism of heparin stocking during coma followed by its release during recovery.