Clinical presentation and laboratory diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II is an immune mediated reaction in which pathologic antibodies develop to a complex composed of heparin and the platelet-derived alpha granule protein, platelet factor 4 (PF4). HIT must be recognized quickly so as to eliminate all heparin exposure from a patient's clinical care. Thrombosis (HIT) may accompany thrombocytopenia resulting in limb and life-threatening complications. Despite a higher incidence of subclinically detectable heparin-PF4 antibody formation in the cardiac care setting, the development of the full clinicopathologic syndrome occurs in approximately 2% to 3% of patients, similar to the incidence in other clinical scenarios.
Pollak
Eleanor S
ES
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abrams
Charles S
CS
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006629:Hirudins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006629:Hirudins; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013449:Sulfonamides; D001120:Arginine; C031942:argatroban; C083544:lepirudin