INTRA-ABDOMINAL HEMORRHAGE DUE TO UNCONTROLLED WARFARIN THERAPY: TWO CASE REPORTS

Warfarin is an anticoagulant which acts by inhibiting synthesis of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. The most important adverse effect is hemorrhage. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to anticoagulants is a rare clinical entity and a life threatening complication. Among women of reproductive age who are receiving long-term warfarin therapy, an ovarian source of hemorrhage is a major cause of intra-abdominal hemorrhage and may produce an acute abdomen. We present two patients with intra-abdominal hemorrhage as a complication of uncontrolled warfarin therapy who had been treated conservatively.