Terlipressin infusion induces ischemia of breast skin in a cirrothic patient with hepatorenal syndrome.
We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-related decompensated cirrhosis with hepatorenal syndrome, treated by high dose of terlipressin. Few hours after the highest dose was started, the patient complained burning pain in breasts, followed by the development of extensive bilateral cyanosis of breast's skin. When terlipressin was immediately stopped, pain and skin cyanosis rapidly disappeared. The peculiarity of our case is that cyanosis did not develop in common peripheral sites (e.g. fingers, toes, etc.) but in an atypical area, as skin of the breasts. Probably, this particular behaviour could be explained by the anatomical position of her large size breasts, that resulting as an extremely sloping and stretching region thus filling the maximum effect of gravity.
Di Micoli
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Bracci
E
E
Cappa
F Mirici
FM
Casadio
R
R
Zambruni
A
A
Fontana
K
K
Bernardi
M
M
Trevisani
F
F
D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006530:Hepatorenal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008236:Lypressin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D000077585:Terlipressin; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008236:Lypressin; D000077585:Terlipressin