title: Therapeutic Dilemmas Regarding Anticoagulation: An Experience in a Patient with Nephrotic Syndrome, Pulmonary Embolism, and Traumatic Brain Injury.
abstract: Patients with active bleeding complications who concomitantly develop overt pulmonary embolism (PE) present distinct therapeutic dilemmas, since they are perceived to be at substantial risk for the progression of the embolism in the absence of treatment and for aggravation of the hemorrhagic lesions if treated with anticoagulants. A 76-year-old patient with nephrotic syndrome, which is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, concurrently developed acute PE and intracranial bleeding because of traumatic brain injury. In this case, we prioritized the treatment for PE with the intravenous unfractionated heparin followed by warfarinization. Despite the transient hemorrhagic progression of the brain contusion after the institution of anticoagulation, our patient recovered favorably from the disease without any signs of neurological compromise. Several conundrums regarding anticoagulation that emerged in this case are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nagata
keywords: intracranial bleeding; nephrotic syndrome; therapeutic anticoagulation; traumatic brain injury; venous thromboembolism