Nadroparine-induced skin necrosis on a patient with essential thrombocythaemia: a case report

Abstract

Skin necrosis is a rare but serious complication of subcutaneously administered low-molecular-weight heparin. We report a case of a 53-year-old female patient with skin necrosis induced by subcutaneous administration of nadroparine. The patient suffered from essential thrombocythaemia on a background of chronic myeloproliferative disease. She was admitted to our clinic with a subacute ileus due to endometriosis of the rectosigmoid junction. She underwent a high anterior resection and she received pre- and postoperative antithrombotic prophylaxis with subcutaneous nadroparine on a daily basis. On the 6^th and 7^th postoperative days, two skin necroses occurred at two injection sites.

Introduction

Skin necrosis following subcutaneously administered low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a rare but serious complication. It is believed that skin necrosis, amongst other thrombotic complications observed, are the result of LMWH-induced platelet aggregation followed by intravascular thrombosis. According to current literature, 24 cases of LMWH-induced necroses have been reported. Three of those cases occurred following nadroparine injections. All 24 cases are reporting on patients with thrombocytopenia. Our case is the only thrombocytotic patient amongst all published cases. The aim of this paper is to report on a rare case of skin necrosis following nadroparine injections on a patient with thrombocytosis.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old Caucasian female patient, with a known history of essential thrombocythaemia on a background of chronic myeloproliferative disease, was admitted to our clinic with a subacute ileus. Laboratory blood tests revealed the following results: Glucose 88 mg/dl, urea 17 mg/dL, creatinine 0.6 mg/dL, SGOT 33 iu/L, SGPT 24 iu/L, γGT 99 iu/L, LDH 418 iu/L, CRP 0.1, total bilirubin 0.7 μmol/L, direct bilirubin 0.35 μmol/L, anti-HCV positive, WCC 9.83 × 10⁹/L, Ht 32.2, PLT 768 (Normal value: >150–300 × 10⁹/L).

All coagulation parameters, including protein S and C activity, antithrombin III activity, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin tine, fibrinogen concentration and fibrinogen degradation products, were within normal range. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen (after gastrograffin intake) revealed spleen distention and stenosis at the rectosigmoid junction. The following day the patient was taken to the operation theatre and the patient underwent a high anterior resection, due to endometriosis of the rectosigmoid junction. On postoperative blood test results, the platelet count was constantly high, ranging between 800 & 900 × 10⁹/L. During her stay in our clinic, the patient received piperacillin-tazobactam 4.5 gr intravenously (I.V.) for one day, omeprazole 40 mg I.V. for two days and 0.6 ml of nadroparine subcutaneously to the abdominal wall, on a daily basis. On the sixth postoperative day, the patient complained of pain in the right lower abdomen, at the site of the nadroparine injections and a purple discoloration appeared on the right lower site of the abdominal wall.

Within 24 hours of the onset of pain, a necrotic eschar surrounded by erythema had formed on the right lower abdomen (Figure 1). The necrotic margins were well demarcated. One day later a second lesion appeared on the left side (Figure 2). Subcutaneous injections of nadroparine were stopped. The pain at the necrotic areas became severe. The patient developed spiking pyrexia, reaching a maximum of 38.7°C. The fever was thought to be a result of the necroses. The lesions were treated conservatively and they gradually settled. The skin returned to its normal appearance 4-5 weeks later.

Figure 1

Necrotic eschar at nadroparine injection site.

Figure 2

Second lesion one day later at the left side of the abdomen.

Discussion

Essential thrombocytosis is an acquired myeloproliferative disorder, characterized by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow in the absence of an alternative cause. Arterial and venous thromboses represent the main risks for patients suffering from essential thrombocytosis [1, 2].

Low molecular weight heparins are currently used as the standard anti-thrombotic therapy. Skin necrosis caused by LMWH is a rare complication. 24 cases have been reported up to today, and only 3 of these cases occurred during nadroparine administration [3]. All reported cases occurred on patients with concomitant thrombocytopenia (platelet count <300,000 cells/ml) rather than thrombocytosis, as was the case in our patient. In our case, the determination of Platelet Factor 4 (PF4)-induced antibodies tested positive on Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Even though our patient had an increased number of platelets, an absolute or even relative decrease of the platelet count is often the only abnormality observed during routine laboratory tests in patients with LMWH-induced skin necroses.

Heparin-dependent IgG antibodies, which activate platelets via their Fc receptors, are regularly found on patients with LMWH-induced skin necroses, independent of the type of LMWH used or of whether the necroses occur locally at the injection sites or further away [4, 5]. These antibodies are specific for complexes consisting of heparin and PF4, which are recognized by the antibody, resulting in antibody-mediated vascular injury [6, 7]. It is believed that heparin causes platelet aggregation in vessels surrounding the site of injection, with subsequent thrombosis. The presence of fibrin thrombi in the veins and capillaries of fresh histopathological specimens lends further strength to this proposition. Histological examination of LMWH-induced skin necrosis specimens reveals microvascular thrombi in the dermal vessels with minimal inflammation and without signs of vasculitis [3].

According to current literature, skin necroses occur most of the times between the 6^th and 12^th day after the first injection [8]. It is possible that LMWH has a low immunogenic profile and therefore requires repeated exposure in order to lead to skin necrosis [3]. The diagnosis of heparin-induced platelet aggregation should be strongly suspected whenever necrosis occurs at an injection site. Once skin necrosis is noticed or suspected, the initial therapeutic action is to immediately stop the LMWH therapy. The administration of any other type of (fractioned or unfractioned) LMWH is not recommended, due to a well known cross reaction of the heparin-dependent antibodies amongst the above products. Should further anticoagulation be necessary, one has the option of acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) or protamin [7, 1, 9]-[11]. Even though Coumarins may be used, there is a published report on coumarin-induced skin necrosis following HIT syndrome [12].

Conclusion

In conclusion, skin necrosis following subcutaneously administered low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a rare but serious complication. It represents a localized manifestation of heparin-induced platelet aggregation and thrombosis.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.