Consumption coagulopathy and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with an axillo-femoral graft.

Consumption coagulopathy and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia occurred as a complication of insertion of an axillofemoral, preclotted dacron graft. Treatment with heparin followed by dipyridamole and aspirin normalized the hematologic and coagulation abnormalities over a two month period. The mechanism of consumption coagulopathy associated with prosthetic grafts is discussed and a possible role for treatment with antiplatelet agents is suggested.