Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties

ABSTRACT: Objective: Multiple case reports have implicated the use of heparin for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. Only 1 previous report has described this with the low molecular weight product, dalteparin. We report a case following bilateral hip arthropla...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Robyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC, Azraa Janmohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-05-01
Series:AACE Clinical Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S237606052030016X
_version_ 1818563157943123968
author Robyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC
Azraa Janmohamed
author_facet Robyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC
Azraa Janmohamed
author_sort Robyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Objective: Multiple case reports have implicated the use of heparin for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. Only 1 previous report has described this with the low molecular weight product, dalteparin. We report a case following bilateral hip arthroplasties. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data are presented. Results: A 69-year-old woman underwent bilateral total hip arthroplasties with dalteparin 5,000 international units subcutaneously daily for 30 days postoperatively. The patient's past medical history was unremarkable. She was discharged 5 days post-surgery and required readmission 1 day later for epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her platelet count was 91 × 109/L (normal, 150 to 400 × 109/L). She was discharged after 4 days with pain resolution. She presented 4 weeks later with nausea and vomiting for several days. Serum sodium was 123 mmol/L (normal, 133 to 145 mmol/L), potassium was 6.0 mmol/L (normal, 3.7 to 5.3 mmol/L), total calcium was 3.37 mmol/L (normal, 2.25 to 2.80 mmol/L), creatinine was 404 μmol/L (normal, 0 to 85 μmol/L), and her platelet count was normal. On short adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test, baseline plasma cortisol was 123 nmol/L and the peak was 129 nmol/L. She was treated with hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone, and 0.9% saline with resolution of symptoms and normalization of electrolytes, calcium, and renal function. Computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal masses. Core needle biopsy was consistent with necrosis. There were no bleeding disorders on hematologic work 3 months later. The most likely etiology of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage was heparin-induced thrombocytopenia from dalteparin. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of vigilance for the complication of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving dalteparin for DVT prophylaxis.
first_indexed 2024-12-14T01:13:09Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c08e7090b99b402fb93c912216e4f034
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2376-0605
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-14T01:13:09Z
publishDate 2020-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series AACE Clinical Case Reports
spelling doaj.art-c08e7090b99b402fb93c912216e4f0342022-12-21T23:22:41ZengElsevierAACE Clinical Case Reports2376-06052020-05-0163e141e143Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP AthroplastiesRobyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC0Azraa Janmohamed1Address correspondence to Dr. Robyn Houlden, Division of Endocrinology, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada.; From the Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.From the Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.ABSTRACT: Objective: Multiple case reports have implicated the use of heparin for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. Only 1 previous report has described this with the low molecular weight product, dalteparin. We report a case following bilateral hip arthroplasties. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data are presented. Results: A 69-year-old woman underwent bilateral total hip arthroplasties with dalteparin 5,000 international units subcutaneously daily for 30 days postoperatively. The patient's past medical history was unremarkable. She was discharged 5 days post-surgery and required readmission 1 day later for epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. Her platelet count was 91 × 109/L (normal, 150 to 400 × 109/L). She was discharged after 4 days with pain resolution. She presented 4 weeks later with nausea and vomiting for several days. Serum sodium was 123 mmol/L (normal, 133 to 145 mmol/L), potassium was 6.0 mmol/L (normal, 3.7 to 5.3 mmol/L), total calcium was 3.37 mmol/L (normal, 2.25 to 2.80 mmol/L), creatinine was 404 μmol/L (normal, 0 to 85 μmol/L), and her platelet count was normal. On short adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test, baseline plasma cortisol was 123 nmol/L and the peak was 129 nmol/L. She was treated with hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone, and 0.9% saline with resolution of symptoms and normalization of electrolytes, calcium, and renal function. Computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal masses. Core needle biopsy was consistent with necrosis. There were no bleeding disorders on hematologic work 3 months later. The most likely etiology of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage was heparin-induced thrombocytopenia from dalteparin. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of vigilance for the complication of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving dalteparin for DVT prophylaxis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S237606052030016X
spellingShingle Robyn L. Houlden, MD, FRCPC
Azraa Janmohamed
Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
AACE Clinical Case Reports
title Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
title_full Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
title_fullStr Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
title_full_unstemmed Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
title_short Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage with Adrenal Insufficiency After Dalteparin Use Post HIP Athroplasties
title_sort bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with adrenal insufficiency after dalteparin use post hip athroplasties
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S237606052030016X
work_keys_str_mv AT robynlhouldenmdfrcpc bilateraladrenalhemorrhagewithadrenalinsufficiencyafterdalteparinuseposthipathroplasties
AT azraajanmohamed bilateraladrenalhemorrhagewithadrenalinsufficiencyafterdalteparinuseposthipathroplasties