title: Antibody-induced arterial thromboembolism resulting in amputation after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare drug reaction that can be associated with thrombotic complications leading to myocardial infarct, stroke, or ischemic loss of a limb. Because of the broadening indications of low-molecular-weight heparin use, the current emphasis on ambulatory care, and the difficulty in clinical diagnosis and treatment of this drug reaction, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is the most important allergic drug reaction that physicians must manage. An antibody-mediated drug reaction to low-molecular-weight heparin that resulted in a below-knee amputation after an elective total knee arthroplasty is reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Virginia 23708, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Markovich
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gagne
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000906:Antibodies; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight