Current Perspectives on Diagnostic Assays and Anti-PF4 Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Kamal K Sahu,1 Vishal Jindal,2 Joseph Anderson,2 Ahmad D Siddiqui,1 Ishmael A Jaiyesimi2 1Hemato-oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA 01608, USA; 2Department of Hematology and Oncology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USACorrespondence: Kamal K SahuHemato-Oncology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, 23 Summer Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608, USAEmail [email protected] JindalDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Oakland University-William Beaumont School of Medicine, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USATel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a recognized clinical entity in patients receiving unfractionated heparin and low–molecular weight heparin. Currently, diagnosing HIT includes the combination of a physician’s clinical suspicion based on a clinical scoring system and a series of laboratory tests. In the present article, we discuss challenges in suspecting and diagnosing HIT in consideration of the turnaround time of available tests and recent advances in techniques and methodologies of newer immunoassays and functional assays.Keywords: heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, laboratory diagnosis, immunoassay, functional assay, platelets, platelet factor 4, serotonin-release assay, HIPA test

Keywords

• heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
• laboratory diagnosis
• immunoassay
• functional assay
• platelets
• platelet factor 4
• serotonin release assay
• hipa test