Post PCI severe gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: A treatment dilemma

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a serious complication encountered commonly in patients on chronic anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet agents. There is a lack of guidelines on how to manage antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy in patients with thrombocytopenia and GI bleeding. This poses a clinical dilemma when a clinician encounters serious GI bleeding in clinical practice. We present a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and chronic thrombocytopenia who suffered severe GI bleeding less than 2 weeks after a percutaneous coronary intervention while being treated with dual antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation.