title: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients.
abstract: Critically ill patients commonly evince thrombocytopenia, either evident on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) or that develops during their stay. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) explains thrombocytopenia in only approximately 1/100 critically ill patients; also, only 1 or 2 in 10 ICU patients with a positive PF4-dependent enzyme immunoassay has “true” HIT. Thus, there is major potential for overdiagnosis of HIT in the ICU. A recent study showing that dalteparin is associated with a reduced frequency of HIT indicates that critically ill patients too can benefit from the HIT-reducing potential of this low molecular weight heparin preparation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. twarken@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Theodore E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Warkentin
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin