Key result
Dual antiplatelet therapy triggers spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma with severe hemoglobin drop in a case report.
Why the study?
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma secondary to antiplatelet therapy is a rare but serious complication with limited reported cases in the literature.
Case Report (n=1)
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma should be considered in patients on antiplatelet therapy presenting with unexplained blood loss.
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma warrants consideration in DAPT patients with unexplained anemia; this case leaves optimal management strategies open.
BACKGROUND Dual antiplatelet therapy has proven efficacy in primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease with a relatively good safety profile. Review of the literature revealed 8 cases of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma secondary to antiplatelet treatment. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 66-year-old male with a flare of acute gout secondary to uncontrolled chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient was started on dual antiplatelet treatment following a drug-eluted stent placement for symptomatic coronary artery disease. He suffered from an unexplained acute drop of five grams of hemoglobin from 10.4 to 5.8 g/dL and symptomatic anemia. The initial labs excluded occult GI bleeding, hemolysis, and bone marrow suppression. However, an abdominal CT scan showed an approximately 7.2×4.7×6.7 cm spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma involving the left iliacus muscle. The patient was successfully treated conservatively by discontinuing antiplatelet therapy and supportive measures. CONCLUSIONS A spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma often presents without localizing signs and symptoms and therefore should be considered in any case of unexplained blood loss in patients on antiplatelet therapy. CT without contrast is the modality of choice to diagnose retroperitoneal hematoma.
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Ibrahim et al. (2017) conducted a case report in Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma (n=1). Dual antiplatelet therapy was evaluated on Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma and hemoglobin drop. A 66-year-old male on dual antiplatelet therapy developed a spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma with a hemoglobin drop from 10.4 to 5.8 g/dL, successfully treated by discontinuing the therapy.
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