Trousseau’s syndrome due to asymptomatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma

• Main Author: Murinello,António
• Publication Date: 2013
• Other Authors: Guedes,Pedro, Rocha,Gizela, Serrano,Ana, Figueiredo,António, Damásio,Helena, Freire,João, Cunha,Fernando, Alves,Liliana
• Format: Report
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0872-81782013000400007
• topic: Trousseau’s syndrome; Migratory thrombophlebitis; Heparin; Occult malignancy; Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

The authors report a case of Trousseau’s syndrome presenting in a previously asymptomatic 58-year-old man diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and liver metástases during a workup prompted by migratory venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It was followed by an ischaemic stroke that occurred while the patient was just one day off anticoagulante therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin to allow for liver and pancreatic biopsies. Trousseau’s syndrome is defined by recurrent or migratory venous thrombosis, arterial embolism caused by non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis, or both, in patients with underlying malignancy. Treatment relies on the lifelong administration of heparin, and its interruption - however brief - may promote new thrombotic events.