Terlipressin-related Ischaemic Necrosis of the Skin: A Rare Complication

Sara Simões Macedo; Cátia Cabral; António Novais; Mónica Teixeira; Anna Knock

doi:10.12890/2019_001247

Terlipressin-related Ischaemic Necrosis of the Skin: A Rare Complication

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2019 Oct 18;6(11):001247. doi: 10.12890/2019_001247. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Sara Simões Macedo¹, Cátia Cabral², António Novais¹, Mónica Teixeira¹, Anna Knock³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu, Viseu, Portugal.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Trofa Saúde Vila Real, Vila Real, Portugal.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal.

Abstract

Terlipressin is used for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices and hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis. Adverse effects are usually minimal. However, potentially serious side effects such as skin necrosis involving the extremities, scrotum, trunk and abdominal skin can rarely occur. Our patient had greater skin involvement than other described cases. We present the case of a patient with extensive skin necrosis, unrelated to the infusion site, in the lower and upper limbs, scrotum and abdomen after the use of terlipressin. Skin necrosis secondary to terlipressin is a rare complication and early identification is essential so the drug can be immediately suspended.

Learning points: Skin necrosis secondary to terlipressin is a rare complication.Early identification is essential so the drug can be immediately suspended.Death is not directly related to the skin necrosis but to the secondary complications of advanced liver disease.

Keywords: Terlipressin; hepatorenal syndrome; liver cirrhosis; skin necrosis; vasoconstrictor agents.

Publication types

Case Reports