MON-LB127 Pulmonary Embolism in the Setting of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. an Under-Recognized Complication

The relation between Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Venous Thromboembolism is important to appreciate for early recognition and management. 90 year old female with Type 2 DM was brought to the ER after a syncopal episode. Family reported the patient to be lethargic with a decreased appetite for one week. On arrival, patient had a blood pressure of 84/44 mmHg. Oxygen saturation was 89% at room air and improved to 93% on supplemental O2. Patient was afebrile with a respiratory rate of 16 and heart rate 89/minute. On exam, she was dehydrated with decreased skin turgor, dry oral mucosa. Labs revealed blood glucose of 621 mg/dL, Bicarbonate 16 mmol/L, B-Hydroxybutyrate 5.00 mmol/L, Anion Gap 21, pH of 7.26 on ABG. Urinalysis was suggestive of a urinary tract infection. After initiation of IV antibiotics and insulin, she was transferred to the intensive care unit. In the ICU, her blood pressure failed to improve with fluid resuscitation, ultimately requiring vasopressors. Due to hypotension with hypoxia, CT Chest was performed which revealed extensive bilateral PE. She was started on IV heparin infusion. Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide was elevated at 4,716 pg/mL. Echocardiogram confirmed right heart strain with severely dilated right ventricle, positive McConnell’s sign, systolic and diastolic septal flattening and an estimated RSVP 67mmHg consistent with moderately severe pulmonary hypertension. Tissue plasminogen activator was recommended however given the patient’s age and functional status; family decided against systemic thrombolysis. Duplex ultrasound of her lower extremities also showed bilateral acute deep venous thrombosis. She was continued on intravenous anticoagulation and eventually was able to come off vasopressors. As the patient’s blood glucose levels improved and her anion gap closed, she was transitioned to basal/bolus insulin and transferred to the general medical floor. She was started on Apixaban and discharged home per family’s request after her code status was changed to DNR-Comfort Care Arrest.Pulmonary embolism is a serious venous thromboembolic event that is rarely reported in association with DKA. Proposed mechanisms include some of the same mechanisms implicated in arterial thrombosis, namely abnormalities in coagulation factors, increased platelet aggregation, impaired fibrinolysis and endothelial injury due to hypertonicity. Also, severe dehydration associated with DKA may contribute by virtue of increased red blood cell rigidity and increased blood viscosity establishing DKA as an underlying cause or contributing factor of pulmonary thromboembolism(2).1 Langevin C et al Presumed paradoxical embolus in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis Int J Gen Med 2015;8:297–301 2015 Sep 18 2 Scordi Bello I et al Fatal Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis A Seven-Case Series and Review of the Literature Acad Forensic Pathol 2016;6(2):198–205