Treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a critical review.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy that has a high rate of morbidity (thrombosis and amputation) and mortality. In the past, a number of different anticoagulants have been used to treat HIT in an attempt to prevent these complications. More recently, direct thrombin inhibitors have become popular. This systematic review summarizes the risk for thrombosis in HIT patients when heparin therapy is stopped; evidence of the efficacy of thrombin inhibitors in patients with HIT with and without thrombosis; evidence supporting the use of thrombin inhibitors in patients with a history of HIT who require a coronary intervention procedure; and the risk for bleeding when antithrombotic agents are used.
Henderson Research Centre, Henderson Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. jhirsh@thrombosis.hhscr.org
Jack
J
Hirsh
Nancy
N
Heddle
John G
JG
Kelton
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006629:Hirudins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006629:Hirudins; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D006493:Heparin; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban; C083544:lepirudin