title: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: how to manage it, how to avoid it.
abstract: Heparin therapy has two potential adverse effects: bleeding and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). There are two types of HIT: type I is more common but less severe; type II occurs less frequently but involves severe thrombocytopenia and a high risk for thrombotic events. Treatment involves discontinuing heparin, allowing the platelet count to return to normal, and treating any thrombosis. Lepirudin (Refludan) is the only agent currently approved for the treatment of HIT-related thrombosis, but other agents may have a role in combination therapy. Prevention includes using low molecular weight heparin instead of unfractionated heparin and limiting unfractionated heparin therapy to less than 5 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caiola
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024764:Hirudin Therapy; D006629:Hirudins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011464:Epoprostenol; D006493:Heparin; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006629:Hirudins; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C035838:danaparoid; C083544:lepirudin