Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 20059332.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1146/annurev.med.042808.171814 and PMC identifier PMC2575642.
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Abstract
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated hypercoagulable disorder caused by antibodies to platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. HIT develops in temporal association with heparin therapy and manifests either as an unexplained thrombocytopenia or thrombocytopenia complicated by thrombosis. The propensity for thrombosis distinguishes HIT from other common drug-induced thrombocytopenias. Diagnosing HIT in hospitalized patients is often challenging because of the frequency of heparin use, occurrence of thrombocytopenia from other causes, and development of asymptomatic PF4/heparin antibodies in patients treated with heparin. This review summarizes our current understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and management approaches in HIT.