bromfenacoum and Thrombosis

Brodifacoum poisoning occurs as a result of ingestion of rodenticide compounds. It acts as a superwarfarin, inhibiting vitamin K epoxide reductase, in an irreversible fashion much like warfarin but with a much longer half-life. A 48-year-old female patient reported 4 days of mild dyspnea, dry cough, bilateral popliteal fossae pain and diffuse upper abdominal pain. She had no history of liver disease or alcohol or illicit substance abuse. Initial physical examination was remarkable only for mildly pale conjunctivae and mild abdominal tenderness and pain in the left popliteal fossa. A complete blood count and complete metabolic panel were normal. Prothrombin time (PT) was above 100 s, partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was above 200 s and international normalized ratio was reported as above 12.0. Urinalysis revealed hematuria. Venous Doppler ultrasound of lower extremities demonstrated left popliteal vein thrombosis. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrated transmural hematoma, and fecal occult blood test was positive. A full anticoagulant work-up showed critical reduction of vitamin K-dependent factors II, VII, IX and X. PT and PTT corrected with mixing studies proving factor deficiency as the cause of the coagulopathy. Lupus anticoagulant studies were negative. Superwarfarin toxicity was suspected and confirmed with an anticoagulant poison panel positive for brodifacoum. The patient was hospitalized and successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and vitamin K. In conclusion, paradoxical thrombosis and hemorrhage should raise the suspicion for superwarfarin toxicity in the appropriate clinical setting. Further studies are required to define the management of these patients.

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Middle Aged; Rodenticides; Thrombosis

A 59-year-old woman was admitted to the internal medicine service after presenting to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and hematuria. Upon further evaluation, the patient was found to be significantly coagulopathic secondary to the intentional ingestion of brodifacoum, the active ingredient in D-Con rat poison, in an attempt to commit suicide. The patient was treated and discharged only to return several days later with new pain and the inability to urinate. She was found to be in acute renal failure and renal ultrasonography revealed bilateral ureteral and renal pelvis thrombus leading to acute obstructive nephropathy. She was taken emergently to the operating room for placement of bilateral ureteral stents which resulted in decompression of her collecting system and resolution of her renal failure.

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Acute Kidney Injury; Anticoagulants; Anuria; Female; Humans; Kidney Pelvis; Middle Aged; Thrombosis

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Acute Kidney Injury; Anticoagulants; Anuria; Female; Humans; Kidney Pelvis; Thrombosis

Topics: 4-Hydroxycoumarins; Adult; Anticoagulants; Diagnosis, Differential; Epistaxis; Female; Hematemesis; Humans; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Pesticides; Poisoning; Prothrombin Time; Thrombosis; Unconsciousness; Vitamin K; Vitamin K Deficiency