Localized and Generalized Skin Adverse Drug Reactions to Nadroparin Calcium Injection in 6 Cases of Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing number of skin adverse drug reactions caused by nadroparin calcium have been reported, mostly, little is known regarding of their details of clinical characteristics, especially for generalized skin adverse drug reactions. We sought to evaluate localized and generalized characteristics of the skin adverse drug reaction to nadroparin calcium injection in pregnant women. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 6 pregnant women, who experienced localized and generalized skin adverse drug reactions during long-term nadroparin calcium injection. The patients' clinical and imaging information were retrieved from medical records. The skin prick test, patch test, and intradermal test were performed after they stopped lactation. Causality assessment of suspected adverse drug reactions was performed on these cases. RESULTS: The average total dose of nadroparin calcium injection in the 6 cases was 64.17 ± 22.66. Localized skin adverse drug reaction, manifested as erythema at the injection point, appeared after 47.5 ± 17.4 days of subcutaneous injection of nadroparin calcium. Generalized urticaria-like lesions, progressing from the injection site on the abdomen, appeared in 5.17 ± 3.60 days after the first appearance of localized reaction, while laboratory test results revealed essential peripheral blood eosinophilia. All rashes in the 6 cases subsided in 2–5 weeks after drug withdrawal. After delivery, 5 of 6 cases received complete skin tests to evaluate drug hypersensitivity. Results presented positive in the intradermal test within 7 days. Both the skin prick test and skin patch test were negative. Localized skin reactions and generalized urticaria-like adverse drug reactions were considered as definitely and probably caused by nadroparin calcium injection, respectively. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous injection of nadroparin calcium in pregnant women appears to be at risk of localized and generalized urticaria-like adverse drug reaction. It is important to follow up the pregnant woman during nadroparin calcium injection for evaluating adverse drug reactions. Timely detection of symptoms is pivotal in early diagnosis and treatment of adverse drug reactions.