title: Spontaneous (atraumatic) splenic rupture complicating anticoagulant treatment for splenic infarction.
abstract: We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient who suffered a spontaneous (atraumatic) splenic rupture (SSR) following splenic infarction treated by heparin anticoagulation. Splenic rupture precipitated by thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy has been reported and putatively attributed to unrecognized micro-traumatisms i.e. after resuscitation manoeuvres, leading to massive bleeding upon anticoagulation and secondary splenic rupture. Nevertheless, SSR resulting from splenic infarction and anticoagulation has not been described.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Radiology, Clinique St-Pierre, Ottignies, Belgium. fabrice.deprez@uclouvain.be
authors.forename: Fabrice C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Deprez
authors.forename: Geoffrey C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Colin
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hainaut
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013159:Splenic Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight