[Complications of antithrombotic prophylaxis with acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) in polycythemia (author's transl)].

Eight patients with polycythemia whose main complaints resulted from vascular complications were prophylactically treated with ASS. 4 patients tolerated the treatment without any side effects, 4 patients had an acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which was fatal in 2 cases. Correlations between the thrombohemorrhagical syndrome in polycythemia on one hand and the side effects of ASS on the other hand are discussed. As a result of this antithrombotic prophylaxis with ASS is not indicated in polycythemia even in predominance of vascular complications and absence of bleeding tendency. In life-threatening situations antithrombotic therapy with heparine should be preferred.