Severe Hypoprothrombinemia Following Propylthiouracil Treatment of Thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

THE following report concerns a case of severe hemorrhagic diathesis appearing during the course of propylthiouracil treatment of thyrotoxicosis. The fundamental defect was a marked prolongation of the prothrombin time, transient in nature. The case is unusual in two respects. First, the prothrombin deficiency occurred as an isolated phenomenon without evidence of liver damage or depression of white blood cells; second, the hemorrhagic tendency was quickly ameliorated by the administration of fresh homologous human serum and whole blood.Case ReportE. L. M., a 16-year-old schoolgirl, was admitted to the University of Virginia Hospital June 10, 1949, because of profuse . . .