Digestive hemorrhage caused by a Meckel's diverticulum in a metformin-treated patient: is there any connection?
An obese patient, not diabetic, treated with metformin for some weeks, was referred to us with severe inferior digestive hemorrhage, diagnosed with Meckel's diverticulum. Metformin is described as a glucose-lowering agent for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and as antiobesity drug, though results achieved with this last indication are not conclusive. But metformin has fibrinolytic features by means of diminished plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 activity. Although no coagulation study was done and the Meckel's diverticulum is normally associated with bleeding, the particular intensity of the following hemorrhage may have been favored by metformin.
Burrull-Madero
M A
MA
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario del Mar, Paseo Marítimo 25-29, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. 88544@imas.imim.es
Del-Villar-Ruiz
A
A
Grau-Cerrato
S
S
Andreu-Garcia
M
M
Goday-Arno
A
A
D000328:Adult; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D008687:Metformin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin