title: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with iliacofemoropopliteal thrombosis in a patient operated for colorectal carcinoma liver metastases.
abstract: We report a case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia thrombosis (HITT) syndrome in a patient prophylactically treated with low molecular weight heparin. A 66-year-old men underwent radiofrequency-assisted partial liver resection for colorectal carcinoma liver metastases a year-and-a-half after he had been operated for rectal cancer. In the postoperative period, patient was prophilactically treated with reviparin sodium. On the 8th postoperative day, the platelet count decreased by more than 50% without clinical signs of thrombosis. HITT syndrome was suspected on the 19th postoperative day, after iliacofemoropopliteal thrombosis had developed, and related diagnosis was supported by the strongly positive particle gel agglutination technique immunoassay. Heparin was withdrawn and alternative anticoagulant, danaparoid sodium, was introduced in therapeutic doses. Despite delayed recognition, favorable clinical outcome was achieved. HITT syndrome should be considered with priority among the possible causes of thrombocytopenia in a surgical patient on heparin.
authors.affiliation: HPB and Liver Transplant Unit, Clinic for Digestive Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade.
authors.forename: Dragica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vucelić
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Antonijević
authors.forename: Danijel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galun
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulajić
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Basarić
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milićević
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011152:Popliteal Vein; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight