Biomaterial Database

Heparin-induced skin necrosis. 1984

G R Hasegawa

A case of skin necrosis caused by subcutaneously administered heparin is reported. A 76-year-old woman received subcutaneous injections of porcine sodium heparin twice a day to prevent deep vein thrombosis. Nineteen days after heparin therapy began, black necrotic areas were noted on her abdomen, and heparin injections were discontinued. The patient received small amounts of heparin intravenously for three additionally days without apparent complications. Proposed mechanisms for heparin-induced skin necrosis include allergic vasculitis and localized platelet aggregation with intravascular thrombosis. Heparin therapy should be stopped if necrosis develops. Intravenous administration of heparin to sensitive patients may be followed by life-threatening reactions. Necrotic areas may heal spontaneously, but often require debridement and skin grafting. Various agents, including steroids, may be useful in preventing the development of necrotic lesions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007263	Infusions, Parenteral	The administration of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through some other route than the alimentary canal, usually over minutes or hours, either by gravity flow or often by infusion pumping.	Intra-Abdominal Infusions,Intraperitoneal Infusions,Parenteral Infusions,Peritoneal Infusions,Infusion, Intra-Abdominal,Infusion, Intraperitoneal,Infusion, Parenteral,Infusion, Peritoneal,Infusions, Intra-Abdominal,Infusions, Intraperitoneal,Infusions, Peritoneal,Intra Abdominal Infusions,Intra-Abdominal Infusion,Intraperitoneal Infusion,Parenteral Infusion,Peritoneal Infusion
D007275	Injections, Intravenous	Injections made into a vein for therapeutic or experimental purposes.	Intravenous Injections,Injection, Intravenous,Intravenous Injection
D007279	Injections, Subcutaneous	Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin.	Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D009336	Necrosis	The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D005260	Female		Females
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
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
D012871	Skin Diseases	Diseases involving the DERMIS or EPIDERMIS.	Dermatoses,Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders,Dermatosis,Skin Disease