The Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: severe bleeding disorder caused by celiac arteriography--reversal by heparin treatment.

Studies are presented on a 62-yr-old woman with extreme hepatomegaly due to a giant hemangioma with alterations in the clotting system indicating a consumption coagulopathy. There was a fall of hemoglobin, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, and platelet number after arteriography of the truncus celiacus. Furthermore, there was sustained bleeding in the patient's right thigh caused by puncture of the arteria femoralis. Continuous administration of iv heparin corrected the clotting disorder including a rise in platelets from 95,000/microliters to 148,000/microliters, permitting surgical removement of the hematoma. Celiacography is a useful tool for the diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomata, as well as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Being an invasive technique, it requires testing for possible consumption coagulopathy if used in patients with hemangiomatosis. Its application should be restricted to cases in which exact diagnosis cannot be established by other means.