Cholesterol microembolization and stable renal function with continued anticoagulation.

Cholesterol microembolization as a sequela of oral anticoagulant therapy has been reported to cause infarction of virtually any organ, often resulting in death. Until recently, discontinuance of anticoagulant therapy has been recommended, as this cessation has been shown to slow or halt further tissue infarction. I have described a patient with a prosthetic heart valve in whom the purple toes syndrome developed. Stable renal function followed the initiation of high-dose subcutaneous heparin therapy.