A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Author: Clot Connect

  • Warfarin-Induced Skin Necrosis

    How common is it? Warfarin-induced skin necrosis is a rare complication of warfarin (coumadin®, Jantoven®) therapy. It occurs in approximately 1 of 10,000 patients treated with warfarin. What is it? Patients with warfarin-induced skin necrosis develop very painful skin areas, most commonly in the breasts,

  • Purple Toe Syndrome

    Warfarin can, in rare instances, cause violaceous painful discoloration of the toes and the sides of the feet, referred to as the “purple toe syndrome” 1 – see photograph below. Occasionally, the hands can also be involved and a net-like skin rash on abdomen and legs (= livedo reticularis) can occur. This typically happens within the…

  • Low Molecular Weight Heparins – Osteoporosis?

    Occasionally, a patient is treated with long-term low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (enoxaparin = Lovenox®; Dalteparin = Fragmin®; Tinzaparin = Innohep®) . LMWH may be given because the patient (a) tolerated warfarin poorly (widely fluctuating INRs; significant side-effects, such as marked hair loss or fatigue), (b) had a recurrent thrombotic event which occured with a therapeutic INR, or…

  • Hair Loss on Warfarin

    How common is it? Hair loss is a known side effect of warfarin, but has hardly been studied [ref 1]. Solid data on how frequently it occurs, on its time-course, and on treatments are  not available. Mild hair loss appears to be common, severe hair loss uncommon, complete hair loss has not been reported.

  • Apixaban (Eliquis®) – Another New Oral Anticoagulant

    Good news.  Another one of the new oral anticoagulants in development,  Apixaban (Eliquis®), has moved forward.  On May 20th, 2011, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Eliquis® for DVT prevention after orthopedic surgery (hip and knee replacement) in the 27 countries of the European Community. In the U.S., however, Eliquis® is still some way away from getting FDA approval

  • Athletes and DVT + PE

    Background Many people think of DVT and PE as a problem occurring in elderly people, but not in young and apparently healthy individuals. While it is certainly true that they occur more commonly in the elderly and in non-athletic overweight individuals, they can, nevertheless, happen in young, normal weight, and athletic people.

  • Testosterone and Thrombosis

    Testosterone Replacement Therapy Replacement therapy with low doses of testosterone does not adversely affect blood coagulation status [ref 1] and does not appear to increase the risk of venous or arterial thrombosis. Thrombosis is not listed as a potential side effect in the commly used drug compendium (Micromedex). Furthermore, the 2006 “Clinical Practice Guideline” from the…

  • HHT

    What is HHT? HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Teleangiectasia), called Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome,  is an inherited disorder in which small blood vessels develop abnormally [ref 1].  It is estimated that 30,000 to 60,000 people (1 out 5,000 to 10,000) in the United States are affected. Individuals with HHT develop telengiectasias in the skin (usually in the fingers and hands) and…