title: Cerebral venous thrombosis due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
abstract: A patient with polycythemia vera who was treated with heparin for superficial septic thrombophlebitis developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and cerebral venous thrombosis with superior sagittal sinus occlusion 11 days after the institution of heparin therapy. We suggest that the severe thrombotic response to the heparin-induced platelet disorder in this patient occurred because the polycythemia vera and the purulent infection enhanced the thrombophilia caused by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. This condition can be avoided in most instances if heparin is used for no longer than 5 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Schutta
mesh_terms: D002550:Cerebral Veins; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin