Does ‘heparin-induced thrombocytopenia’ hit our minds?

Abstract

Unfractionated heparin is a widely used drug to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli in patients at risk. With the advent of newer anticoagulants having lesser side effects, its use has diminished but not out of service. Here, we report a case of deep venous thrombosis, in a patient on prophylactic dose of heparin, which was later found to be a manifestation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Thrombosis in the presence of heparin prophylaxis should be considered as HIT rather than a failure of anticoagulation.

Keywords

• deep venous thrombosis
• fondaparinux
• heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
• unfractionated heparin