Early diagnosis of colonic carcinoma: a haemorrhagic complication after the use of tissue plasminogen activator.
Haemorrhagic complications of thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction are common. A 68 year old man presented with a myocardial infarction and was started on tissue plasminogen activator. Soon after he experienced rectal bleeding and a barium enema showed a small carcinoma in the colon, which was treated surgically. It is important that gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to thrombolysis is always investigated for an underlying cause.
Baker
J W
JW
Department of Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Road, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
Mitchell
S J
SJ
Dixon
A R
AR
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator