Cerebral sinus thrombosis and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Intern Med. 2010;49(10):941-3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3053. Epub 2010 May 14.

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rare acquired disorder of clonal hematopoietic stem cells and it is characterized as a hypercoagulable disorder. We report a 36-year-old woman with the rare triad of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, cerebral sinus thrombosis triggered by infection, and rapid-onset heparin-induced thrombocytopenia after resensitization of heparin. This case raises caution for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Anticoagulants / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / complications*
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / drug therapy*
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Heparin / immunology
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / complications
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / diagnostic imaging
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / drug therapy
  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / etiology*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia / immunology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Autoantibodies
  • Heparin