title: [Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage secondary to heparin treatment: a case report].
abstract: Bilateral suprarenal haemorrhage (BSH) has not been often described as a cause of chronic suprarenal insufficiency. The diagnosis before death is difficult and it was rare until the CAT scan became a routine diagnostic tool. Of 25 cases reported since 1981, 23 were diagnosed by CAT scan. We report a case of a patient that developed bilateral suprarenal haemorrhage (BSH) during heparin therapy for pulmonary embolism. The early clinical picture resembled a septic shock, and the diagnosis of Addison disease was made later. We reviewed the medical literature and we emphasized the clinical problems in which we should suspect the diagnosis of BSH, where early therapy with steroids may be critical to save the patient's life.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Juan Canalejo, La Coruña.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Echániz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diz-Lois
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellicer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanmartín
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suárez Dono
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pombo
mesh_terms: D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin
vernacular_title: Hemorragia suprarrenal bilateral, secundaria a tratamiento con heparina: descripción de un caso.