title: Immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia resulting from preceding exposure to heparin catheter flushes.
abstract: Immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening adverse effect of heparin. It can result from any type of heparin exposure and by any route of administration; however only a few cases are reported after exposures to small quantities of heparin from catheter flushes. The major clinical problem associated with HIT is thrombosis. Early detection and institution of alternative, non-heparin anticoagulation are important. We report a patient with HIT associated with use of therapeutic-dose unfractionated heparin in whom immune sensitization to heparin was triggered by two 500-unit exposure to UFH associated with intravascular catheter flushing for antineoplastic chemotherapy in a patient with colon adenocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fairview Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Alaa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Muslimani
authors.forename: Basma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ricaurte
authors.forename: Hamed A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Daw
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008642:Mesenteric Veins / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin