Osteoporosis and vertebral collapse following low-dose, low molecular weight heparin therapy in a young patient.
Osteoporosis is a well-recognized complication of long-term heparin (unfractionated) therapy. It has been suggested that the low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have a lower potential to cause osteopenia than the unfractionated preparations. We report a case of a 29-year-old woman who developed osteoporosis and pathological fracture of lumbar vertebrae following treatment with low dose LMWH (dalteparin) for 3 months. The aim of this report is to alert clinicians to the potential risk of this complication with the prolonged use of LMWH preparations--an increasingly popular choice for long-term anticoagulation.
Sivakumaran
M
M
Department of Haematology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK.
Ghosh
K
K
Zaidi
Y
Y
Hutchinson
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight