Warfarin-induced skin necrosis. 2009

Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
Department of Pathology and Dermatopathology Unit, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.

Warfarin-induced skin necrosis is a rare complication of anticoagulant therapy with a high associated morbidity and mortality requiring immediate drug cessation. Cutaneous findings include petechiae that progress to ecchymoses and hemorrhagic bullae. Characteristic dermatopathological findings are diffuse dermal microthrombi with endothelial cell damage and red cell extravasation with progression to full-thickness coagulative necrosis. The lesions of warfarin-induced skin necrosis may be difficult to differentiate from mimickers, but skin biopsy in conjunction with careful consideration of the clinical history, including time of onset, cutaneous distribution of the lesions, and laboratory findings, are essential for prompt diagnosis and patient treatment. Herein, we review the clinical and histologic features helpful for differentiating warfarin-induced skin necrosis and report a case illustrative of the diagnostic difficulty that may at times be encountered in clinical practice.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008297 Male Males
D009336 Necrosis The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D003131 Combined Modality Therapy The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used. Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004334 Drug Administration Schedule Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience. Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000925 Anticoagulants Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING. Anticoagulant Agent,Anticoagulant Drug,Anticoagulant,Anticoagulant Agents,Anticoagulant Drugs,Anticoagulation Agents,Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors,Agent, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulation,Drug, Anticoagulant,Drugs, Anticoagulant,Inhibitors, Indirect Thrombin,Thrombin Inhibitors, Indirect

Related Publications

Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
January 2010, Southern medical journal,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
April 1999, Postgraduate medical journal,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
December 1993, Hematology/oncology clinics of North America,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
March 2000, The British journal of surgery,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
September 1998, The American journal of emergency medicine,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
December 2022, Postgraduate medical journal,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
April 2016, The Indian journal of medical research,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
October 1990, Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
December 2014, Hospital pharmacy,
Rosalynn M Nazarian, and Elizabeth M Van Cott, and Artur Zembowicz, and Lyn M Duncan
January 2014, Journal of general internal medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!