Open AccessAnticoagulant-induced oral bleeding
Author(s) -
Victor Costa,
Estela Kaminagakura
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
brazilian dental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.153
H-Index - 6
ISSN - 2178-6011
DOI - 10.14295/bds.2017.v20i3.1379
Subject(s) - medicine , warfarin , atrial fibrillation , anticoagulant , thrombosis , lesion , pulmonary embolism , cardiology , stroke (engine) , deep vein , surgery , mechanical engineering , engineering
Warfarin is an anticoagulant used to prevent thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, and recurrence of pulmonary embolism. A 69-year-old male patient reported episodes of four heart attacks, stroke, pulmonary emphysema, varicose veins, thyroid dysfunction, and a history of angioplasty. They use daily dose of 5 mg. Intraoral clinical examination revealed a bleeding nodular lesion of purple color with irregular borders and a smooth surface. The prothrombin time was 68.9 seconds, activity was 10%, and the international normalized ratio (INR) was 8.26. Based on these results, the patient received a single dose of 2.5 mg vitamin K via subcutaneous route. The final diagnosis was oral anticoagulant-induced lesions. Clinicians should be familiar with the side effects of anticoagulants, which are rare in the oral cavity, but can be life-threatening if diagnosed late or inaccurately, especially in older patients that often use many drugs.KeywordsAnticoagulant; Hemorrhage; Warfarin; Mouth.