1. Bismuth Subsalicylate Coagulopathy in a Patient with Chronic Liver Disease
- Author
-
Diane P. Calello, Cynthia Santos, Noel Eustaquio, Catherine Yu, Bruce Ruck, and Lewis S. Nelson
- Subjects
Liver Cirrhosis ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cirrhosis ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Case Report ,Toxicology ,Chronic liver disease ,Gastroenterology ,Bismuth subsalicylate ,03 medical and health sciences ,Liver disease ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,Organometallic Compounds ,Coagulopathy ,Humans ,Medicine ,International Normalized Ratio ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Prothrombin time ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,030208 emergency & critical care medicine ,Blood Coagulation Disorders ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Salicylates ,Chronic Disease ,Toxicity ,Female ,sense organs ,business ,Hypoprothrombinemia ,Bismuth ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) is the active ingredient in over-the-counter antacid and antidiarrheal medications. Coagulopathy in the setting of acetylsalicylic acid toxicity is well documented but not in setting of bismuth subsalicylate overuse. We present a case report of coagulopathy from BSS poisoning in a patient with underlying cirrhosis. The patient’s high prothrombin time suggests inhibition of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. The patient had decreased factor V activity, which is responsible for converting prothrombin to thrombin. Patients with cirrhosis often have hypoprothrombinemia which may be exacerbated by salicylate-induced coagulopathy. Given the widespread use of BSS products, physicians should recognize coagulopathy as a possible manifestation of toxicity especially in patients with underlying liver disease. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s13181-019-00709-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Published
- 2019