Skin necrosis due to fluindione treatment: a rare but serious complication

J Wound Care. 2014 Feb;23(2 Suppl):S16-9. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2014.23.Sup2b.S16.

Abstract

In the setting of protein C deficiency, skin necrosis, which occurs most often at the initial phase of oral anticoagulants therapy, is a rare side effect. Six cases have previously been reported in the literature. In this case report, we present a protein C deficient 42-year-old woman who was being treated for venous thrombosis. Five days after the initiation of oral anticoagulant treatment, she developed extensive skin necrosis on her left calf, followed by a painful leg ulcer. The pathogenesis underlying skin necrosis caused by anticoagulation therapy is still not clear. Despite only a few cases being reported in the literature, it is important to recognise this complication since adequate therapeutic approaches leading to a stable anticoagulation state may prevent it.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Necrosis
  • Occlusive Dressings
  • Phenindione / adverse effects
  • Phenindione / analogs & derivatives*
  • Protein C Deficiency / complications
  • Silicone Gels / therapeutic use
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Ulcer / chemically induced*
  • Skin Ulcer / therapy
  • Venous Thrombosis / complications
  • Venous Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Silicone Gels
  • Phenindione
  • fluindione