title: Anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody is a risk factor for vascular access obstruction in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
abstract: Since heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used in hemodialysis and the patients on hemodialysis are repeatedly exposed to heparin, heparin may be the cause of the development of heparin-dependent antibodies and thrombotic complications in patients on hemodialysis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the clinical significance of the antibodies against heparin-platelet factor 4 complexes as determined by enzyme immunoassay in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The prevalence of anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibodies was higher in hemodialysis patients than in normal subjects (8.8 vs 0.0%, p<0.05). The number of past episodes of vascular access obstruction per year was significantly higher in the anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody positive group than antibody negative group. Anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody positive patients experienced more frequent vascular access obstructions than control subjects. In conclusion, anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody might be a risk factor for vascular access obstructions in patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Research Institute, Soonchunhyang University Chonan Hospital, 23-30 Bongmyungdong, Chonan 330-721, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyu-Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jong-Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sae-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D006493:Heparin