A spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a hemodialysis patient: a rare entity

Intern Med. 2009;48(24):2115-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.48.2335.

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients are at an increased risk of bleeding due to the platelet dysfunction caused by uremia and the use of anticoagulants during dialysis. Spontaneous spinal hematoma is a rare disorder as a complication in hemodialysis patients. Also it includes the hematoma secondary to coagulopathy, vascular malformation and hemorrhagic tumors. Here, we report the case of 77-year-old woman who presented with spinal cord compression due to spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma associated with hemodialysis. When an end-stage renal disease patient suffers from back pain and neurological deficits, the clinician should be alerted for the spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma as well as cerebrovascular events.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / chemically induced*
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Renal Dialysis*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Heparin