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Can warfarin cause skin to become thin and paper like?

Associated tags: adverse events, Cardiovascular disease, Dermatology, warfarin

Question DetailsView Comments (0)

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provided by Trip / NLH

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Question answered:05/07/07 Warning! this question is over two years old.

We searched the NLH Specialist Library for Skin Disorders, the BNF plus the TRIP and Medline databases but found no guidelines or studies specifically reporting thining of skin to be an adverse effect of warfarin. Concerning dermatological reactions to warfarin, the BNF notes:

“Side effects … other side-effects reported include hypersensitivity, rash, alopecia, diarrhoea…” [1]

In addition, the CKS (PRODIGY) guideline on atrial fibrillation states:

“Other adverse effects include skin rash, alopecia, and jaundice.” [2]

A second CKS guideline, one on deep vein thrombosis notes that, “there is a risk of of skin necrosis on initiation of warfarin, so caution needed” in patients with protein C deficiency [3].

References
1. BNF No. 53 March 2007.
(http://www.bnf.org.uk/bnf/bnf/53/2792.htm?q=%22warfarin%22).
2. CKS. Atrial fibrillation. Last revised January 2007. (http://cks.library.nhs.uk/atrial_fibrillation/)
3. CKS. Deep vein thrombosis. Last revised May 2006. (http://cks.library.nhs.uk/deep_vein_thrombosis/).

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