Background: Adenomyosis is a benign gynecological condition in which endometrial tissue or endometrial-like tissue develops within the uterine myometrium. Few cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation has been reported in the patients with adenomyosis. Although hysterectomy is indicated for refractory massive uterine bleeding in the patients with advanced uterine adenomyosis, conservative treatment is often desired in women in the late reproductive age. Recently such cases are increasing due to the social trend of late marriage.
Case presentation: A 37-year-old woman with huge adenomyosis, gravida 2 para 0, was referred to our hospital to terminate her pregnancy. Acute, non-septic, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed after early pregnancy was terminated in a woman with huge adenomyosis. Massive bleeding and DIC occurred 3 days after the dilatation and curettage. There was no evidence of infection as the cause of the DIC, because neither bacteria nor endotoxin could be detected in her blood, and antithrombin 3 (AT3), which would be expected to decrease in septic patients, was not decreased. Hemorrhage in the adenomyotic tissue after the termination presumably developed inflammation, with numerous microthrombi and necrosis in the adenomyotic tissue, which subsequently promoted coagulation and fibrinolysis, leading to the onset of massive uterine bleeding and DIC. Although severe hyperfibrinolysis is observed in peripheral blood, the fibrinolysis state in the uterine myometrium is considered to be even more severe. The newly formed clots for hemostasis under the uterine mucosa could be removed due to the excessive activation of fibrinolytic system happened in the adjacent myometrium, leading to the onset of massive uterine bleeding. Massive bleeding and DIC resolved quickly after the patient was treated with nafamostat mesilate, which is effective for both excessive coagulation and fibrinolysis.
Conclusions: Adenomyosis could cause massive bleeding and DIC when pregnancy is terminated. Massive bleeding was considered to occur because the excessive fibrinolysis system inside adenomyosis affected the adjacent endometrium. Before considering hysterectomy to control refractory uterine bleeding, nafamostat mesilate should be considered as one option, thinking the pathophysiology of the massive bleeding due to uterine adenomyosis.
Keywords: Adenomyosis; Case report; Disseminated intravascular coagulation; Termination of pregnancy, abortion.