Background::This case report highlights a rare occurrence of aspirin overdose presenting only as severe coagulopathy.
Case presentation::An 85-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with multiple lumbar vertebral compression fractures causing severe back pain. The patient had self-medicated with excessive consumption of Bufferin A containing 330 mg of aspirin. On arrival, she showed no typical symptoms of salicylate toxicity, such as nausea, vomiting, hyperventilation, tinnitus, or hearing loss. However, blood work revealed a significant decrease in vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors leading to coagulopathy. The administration of 20-mg menatetrenone (vitamin K) resulted in rapid improvement in coagulation abnormalities. The patient's blood salicylate level was later determined to be 42.7 mg/dL.
Discussion::Acute salicylate poisoning is known to cause coagulopathy because of the inhibition of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors. However, this case is unique because it demonstrates coagulopathy as the sole manifestation of aspirin toxicity without any other symptoms.
Conclusions::This case highlights the importance of considering the possibility of aspirin toxicity in patients with coagulopathy, especially those who are regularly consuming aspirin.