Thromboembolic complications in Thai pediatric patients.

ABSTRACT

Sixty patients with thromboembolic complications from 1987 to 1997 at the Department of Pediatrics, Ramathibodi Hospital were retrospectively studied. Twenty patients were infants and 40 patients were children and adolescents with a mean age of 18 days and 8 years, respectively. The sites of thromboembolic complications were in the central nervous system, 27.5 per cent; skin as purpura fulminans or necrotic lesions, 24.5 per cent; gangrene of the toe, finger or colon, 19 per cent; deep vein thrombosis, 16 per cent; and other sites such as heart and lungs, 13 per cent. Most of them had triggering conditions (80%) and underlying diseases (76.7%) causing thromboembolism. The low levels of either antithrombin III, protein C or protein S were found in 42 per cent (15/36). The management included administration of standard or low molecular weight heparin if not contraindicated, replacement of fresh frozen plasma 10 ml/kg twice a day and treatment of underlying and triggering conditions. The fatality rate was 15 per cent (9/60). Subsequent episodes of thromboembolism occurred in 6 patients including pulmonary emboli in one patient with protein C deficiency who refused warfarin administration, deep vein thrombosis in 2 patients with unidentified etiology, and necrotic skin lesions in 3 patients with vasculitis who did not respond to treatment. In conclusion, a comprehensive investigation and specific treatment for patients with thromboembolic complications are emphasized in order to prevent recurring episodes.