title: Immunobiology of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction that may develop in certain patients exposed to heparin and is caused by antibodies with specificity for chemokine CXCL4 (formerly known as platelet factor 4)/heparin complexes. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is key to prevent severe thrombotic complications. The immunobiology of HIT is atypical as the immune reaction most often involves rapid generation of immunoglobulin class G within 5-14 days after heparin exposure, and apparently lacks memory as patients may be reexposed to heparin. This report reviews clinical presentation, diagnostic issues, and immunobiology of HIT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, 0407 Oslo, Norway. p.m.sandset@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Per Morten
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sandset
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000276:immunology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D006493:Heparin