Heparin induced thrombocytopenia: diagnosis and contemporary antithrombin management

J Thromb Thrombolysis. 1999 Jun;7(3):259-64. doi: 10.1023/a:1008979010033.

Abstract

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) may be complicated by severe thrombotic complications and death. Currently no specific laboratory test is available to make the diagnosis. When HIT is clinically suspected, heparin should be discontinued immediately. While no specific therapy for HIT exists, there is increasing evidence that acute antithrombin therapy may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. Among several agents, the direct antithrombins, such as r-hirudin and argatroban, look the most promising for acute treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ancrod / pharmacology
  • Ancrod / therapeutic use
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / pharmacokinetics
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / therapeutic use
  • Dermatan Sulfate / pharmacokinetics
  • Dermatan Sulfate / therapeutic use
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / adverse effects
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Forecasting
  • Gangrene / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / prevention & control
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Heparitin Sulfate / pharmacokinetics
  • Heparitin Sulfate / therapeutic use
  • Hirudin Therapy
  • Hirudins / analogs & derivatives
  • Hirudins / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Pipecolic Acids / pharmacokinetics
  • Pipecolic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Protein C / physiology
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacokinetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Sulfonamides
  • Thrombin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy
  • Warfarin / adverse effects
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Hirudins
  • Pipecolic Acids
  • Protein C
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Sulfonamides
  • Dermatan Sulfate
  • Warfarin
  • Heparin
  • Chondroitin Sulfates
  • Heparitin Sulfate
  • Arginine
  • danaparoid
  • Ancrod
  • Thrombin
  • argatroban
  • lepirudin