D-dimer can be a diagnostic marker for cisplatin-related aortic thrombosis: A case report

RATIONALE: Cisplatin is one of the key drugs that is frequently used for treating various types of malignancies. Although renal and digestive toxicities are well-known cisplatin-related toxicities, attention should also be paid to acute aortic thrombosis, a relatively rare but potentially fatal disorder caused by cisplatin. Additionally, D-dimer is mainly measured to detect venous thromboembolism or disseminated intravascular coagulation, whereas its usefulness for detecting aortic thrombosis remains unclear. Here, we report a case of squamous cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, wherein acute aortic thrombosis was diagnosed based on elevated D-dimer levels. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old man with stage IV squamous cell lung cancer presented with elevated D-dimer levels during treatment with second-line chemotherapy with cisplatin and S-1. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed an intramural thrombus, which had not been previously identified, extending from the abdominal aorta to the common iliac artery. DIAGNOSES: We diagnosed the patient as having acute aortic thrombosis caused by cisplatin. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received intravenous administration of unfractionated heparin for 9 days followed by oral warfarin. OUTCOMES: One month after initiating treatment, the patient's D-dimer levels decreased to the normal range, and contrast-enhanced CT revealed that the thrombi had nearly completely disappeared without any sequelae or organ damage. LESSONS: Our findings revealed that cisplatin can cause acute aortic thrombosis and that regular measurements of D-dimer levels before and during chemotherapy may contribute to the early detection of acute aortic thrombosis.