Unexpected Problems of Antithrombotic Therapy with An Unusual Side Effect of Vitamin K Antagonists after Mitral Valve Replacement

J Heart Valve Dis. 2017 May;26(3):309-313.

Abstract

Except for bleeding complications, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are known to have few undesirable side effects. Herein is presented the case of a 45-year-old woman in whom liver damage was induced by fluindione and warfarin after mitral valve replacement. Hepatotoxicity is a rare complication of VKAs, both in the French National and Drug Safety registry and the medical literature. A diagnosis of VKA-induced drug damage was confirmed by the absence of other etiologies, the chronological sequence, recurrence after re-exposure to VKA, and rapid improvements after discontinuation of the drug. Despite possible cross-reactions between VKAs, the re-introduction of acenocoumarol was successfully achieved, with no recurrence of biological disturbances.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / diagnosis
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / therapy
  • Drug Substitution
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / adverse effects
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / instrumentation
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Mitral Valve / physiopathology
  • Mitral Valve / surgery*
  • Phenindione / administration & dosage
  • Phenindione / adverse effects
  • Phenindione / analogs & derivatives*
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin K / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Warfarin / administration & dosage
  • Warfarin / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Vitamin K
  • Phenindione
  • Warfarin
  • fluindione