The pathogenesis of venous limb gangrene associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-mediated arterial occlusion is a well-recognized cause of limb loss in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. However, the syndrome of distal ischemic necrosis complicating the deep venous thrombosis (venous limb gangrene) sometimes associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia has not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To study the pathogenesis of venous limb gangrene associated with heparin-induced …