title: Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia: low frequency in 104 patients treated with heparin of intestinal mucosal origin.
abstract: A prospective study of 104 patients receiving heparin obtained from porcine intestinal mucosa for 4 or more days was conducted to determine the frequency of associated significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100 x 10(9)/I on 2 consecutive days). No episodes of significant thrombocytopenia were identified in the 13 patients receiving heparin by continuous intravenous infusion for a mean of 8.0 days or in the 38 patients receiving heparin subcutaneously for a mean of 9.9 days. In 1 of the 26 patients receiving heparin as intermittent intravenous boluses for a mean of 8.2 days significant thrombocytopenia developed; this patient had laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. In none of the 17 patients receiving uninterrupted heparin therapy for 4 or more days by more than one route of administration but for less than 4 days by any single route did significant heparin-associated thrombocytopenia develop. Of the 104 patients 13 had one or more platelet counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/I, but in most it was not possible to definitely relate the thrombocytopenia to the heparin therapy. Platelets in normal platelet-rich plasma did not aggregate when heparin and serum from patients with thrombocytopenia were added. The frequency of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia noted in this study was considerably lower than that reported previously.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013552:Swine; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin