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File:IPLab12Acetaminophen8.jpg|This is a higher-power photomicrograph of the skin from this patient showing a blister and the thrombosed small vessels (arrows) in the dermis.
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== Study Questions ==
* <spoiler text="What is the most likely cause for the liver necrosis seen in this patient?">The acetaminophen level on admission was not elevated; however, the patient had been in distress for some time and had not taken any acetaminophen within the previous 12 hours. Upon questioning, the patient admitted that he had continued to take his usual doses of acetaminophen even after his internist put him on new drugs. He was unaware that one of the new drugs he was taking had acetaminophen in it. Thus, he was taking an overdose of acetaminophen and this resulted in hepatic toxicity.
Adverse drug reactions can occur with therapeutic agents, but in this case the most probable cause for liver necrosis was the unintentional overdose of acetaminophen by this patient who was not aware that one of the new drugs he was taking already contained acetaminophen.</spoiler>
* <spoiler text="Why did this patient develop DIC?">Liver necrosis releases thromboplastin and can initiate the coagulation cascade leading to intravascular coagulation.</spoiler>
{{IPLab 12}}
[[Category: IPLab:Lab 12]]
