Successful treatment of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia and thrombosis using Hirulog.
Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia is a serious medical problem, especially when the patient requires continued anticoagulation. Hirulog is an immediate-acting intravenous anticoagulant that can be substituted for heparin. A new use of Hirulog in the treatment of life-threatening heparin-associated thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HATT) is presented. Two patients suffering from the HATT syndrome were successfully treated with Hirulog to prevent further thrombosis. A third patient had developed heparin-associated thrombocytopenia after coronary artery bypass surgery in the past and was subsequently treated with Hirulog during a peripheral angioplasty procedure. Hirulog was an effective and predictable anticoagulant for these patients and was free from adverse effects.
Chamberlin
J R
JR
Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.
Lewis
B
B
Leya
F
F
Wallis
D
D
Messmore
H
H
Hoppensteadt
D
D
Walenga
J M
JM
Moran
S
S
Fareed
J
J
McKiernan
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D024764:Hirudin Therapy; D006629:Hirudins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006629:Hirudins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006493:Heparin; D013917:Thrombin; C074619:bivalirudin