title: Oral anticoagulant therapy: a precipitating factor in the pathogenesis of cholesterol embolization?
abstract: The authors describe three patients who developed a blue toe syndrome after initiation of oral anticoagulant therapy. Based on these observations and data in the literature, they discuss a possible relationship. They conclude that the vascular surgeon should be aware of this possibility and that oral anticoagulants should be used very carefully in the "medical" management of cholesterol embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, U.Z. Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevelsteen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kutten
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002784:Cholesterol; D004617:Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced; D004691:Endarterectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014034:Toes / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002784:Cholesterol