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Antibody-induced arterial thromboembolism resulting in amputation after total knee arthroplasty
G D Markovich1, J M Russell, P Gagne
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Virginia 23708, USA.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare drug reaction that can be associated with thrombotic complications leading to myocardial infarct, stroke, or ischemic loss of a limb. Because of the broadening indications of low-molecular-weight heparin use, the current emphasis on ambulatory care, and the difficulty in clinical diagnosis and treatment of this drug reaction, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is the most important allergic drug reaction that physicians must manage. An antibody-mediated drug reaction to low-molecular-weight heparin that resulted in a below-knee amputation after an elective total knee arthroplasty is reported.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare drug reaction that can be associated with thrombotic complications leading to myocardial infarct, stroke, or ischemic loss of a limb. Because of the broadening indications of low-molecular-weight heparin use, the current emphasis on ambulatory care, and the difficulty in clinical diagnosis and treatment of this drug reaction, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is the most important allergic drug reaction that physicians must manage. An antibody-mediated drug reaction to low-molecular-weight heparin that resulted in a below-knee amputation after an elective total knee arthroplasty is reported.