Massive acute thrombosis of the descending thoracic aorta in heparin-associated thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.

Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia with thrombosis is a rare but serious complication in patients receiving heparin therapy. We report a case of a patient with this complication who had massive thrombosis within the descending thoracic aorta detected by transesophageal echocardiography. Our case suggests that a transesophageal echocardiographic examination can be useful in the early diagnosis of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.