Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis

Abstract

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and associated thrombotic events, relatively common side effects of heparin therapy, can cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Typically, these conditions occur after about five days of therapy, but they can appear sooner in patients previously treated with heparin. Thrombocytopenia in itself rarely poses a threat to affected patients, but disorders associated with it, which include deep venous thrombosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pulmonary embolism, cerebral thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and ischemic injury to the legs or arms, can produce severe morbidity and mortality. In order to prevent these complications, it has become standard medical practice to monitor platelet counts in . . .