Cutaneous manifestations of intravenous vasopressin therapy.

A 79-year-old woman with primary biliary cirrhosis was admitted with esophageal variceal hemorrhage. She was initially managed with sclerosing of esophageal varices with no relief from the bleeding. Intravenous Vasopressin was started, but had to be discontinued because of cutaneous changes. A portocaval shunt was performed to control the variceal bleeding. Postoperatively she did poorly from sepsis and hepatic encephalopathy and died 46 days after admission to the hospital.