Research uncovers reaction between 2 blood thinners

Researchers at Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHSC), in Hamilton, Ontario, recently released the results of a study that shows a severe clotting syndrome between two common blood thinners that results in 50 to 300 limb amputations in North America each year.

Research into why some patients develop an allergy to heparin, known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, showed that it was the treatment of the heparin allergy by an alternate blood thinner warfarin that worsened the blood clots. As a result, smaller blood vessels became involved, resulting in tissue gangrene and limb amputation.