Multivessel coronary thrombosis resulting from heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
Thrombosis associated with a drop in the platelet count may occur in 33-50% of the patients who develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) during treatment with unfractionated heparin. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who was treated with unfractionated heparin following a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). He developed an acute ST segment elevation infarction (STEMI) on day 3 with an associated severe thrombocytopenia. He was successfully treated with percutaneous intervention and aspiration of coronary thrombus from the right coronary artery and the left circulflex artery, followed by an infusion a direct thrombin inhibitor lepirudin/bivalirudin. He made an excellent recovery.
Iqbal
R
R
CResT Directorate, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8. rashidiqbal5@gmail.com
Mulvihill
N T
NT
Nolan
B
B
Crean
P A
PA
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin