heparin necrosis

Introduction

An irregular, but sharply demarcated area of hemorrhagic infarction at the site of heparin administraation

Pathology

• associated with blood vessel thrombosis at distal skin sites
• may also occur in other organs

Laboratory

• coagulation studies, fibrinogen & fibrin split products generally within normal limits
• platelet count shows thrombocytopenia

More general terms

• skin necrosis