HEPARIN INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND Unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight-heparins are commonly prescribed drugsin everyday clinical practice for treatment or prevention of thrombotic diseases. Heparinis used also for providing patency of various catheters. Heparin seldom causes heparininduced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and concomitant activation of coagulation cascade.Activated coagulation could result in arterial or venous thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS Unrecognized HIT could be fatal. In HIT diagnostics regular follow-up of platelet values isimportant. When platelet number is decreasing, possibility of HIT should be taken intoaccount. After assessment of the clinical scoring system in HIT probable cases specific testsshould be done. When HIT is confirmed, patients should be treated with anticoagulants.Cumarins should not be used at the beginning, but later in patients with confirmed thromboticevent