title: Direct antithrombin agents ameliorate disseminated intravascular coagulation in suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia thrombosis syndrome.
abstract: This is a case series of 5 patients who were treated with the direct antithrombin agents (lepirudin or argatroban) for known or suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia thrombosis syndrome (HITTs). Coincidentally all had evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The DIC parameters improved with treatment and each patient was successfully discharged from the hospital. These observations provide evidence that the direct antithrombin inhibitors, lepirudin and argatroban, can improve DIC. Moreover the presence of DIC in a patient with suspected HlTTs should not mitigate against the use of these agents.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006629:Hirudins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006629:Hirudins; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D006493:Heparin; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban; C083544:lepirudin