title: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (an overview).
abstract: Heparin induced thrombocytopenia is a serious side effect of a drug that is widely used in clinical practice. All patients exposed to heparin, administered by any route or at any dose, are at varying risk of developing HIT and its potentially devastating thrombotic complications. There are two clinical forms of HIT, type I and type II. Type I HIT, is a non-immunologic response, while type II HIT is an immunologic response to heparin therapy. Type I HIT is not associated with an increased risk of thrombosis and is characterized by reversible thrombocytopenia. Type II HIT occurs in approximately 1 to 3% of patients receiving unfractionated heparin. Type II HIT is more severe because of the increased risk of thrombotic events. Venous and arterial thromboembolic complications may lead to amputation, stroke, myocardial infarction, and death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fairview Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Daneschvar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daw
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003422:Critical Care; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin