Prospective multicentre cohort study of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in acute ischaemic stroke patients

2011

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients

Sample size: 267 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kawano Hiroyuki, Yamamoto Haruko, Miyata Shigeki, Izumi Manabu, Hirano Teruyuki, Toratani Naomi, Kakutani Isami, Sheppard Jo-Ann I, Warkentin Theodore E, Kada Akiko, Sato Shoichiro, Okamoto Sadahisa, Nagatsuka Kazuyuki, Naritomi Hiroaki, Toyoda Kazunori, Uchino Makoto, Minematsu Kazuo

Primary Institution: National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Centre

Hypothesis

What is the incidence and clinical features of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in acute stroke patients treated with heparin?

Conclusion

The incidence of definite HIT in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with heparin was found to be 1.7%, with a very high in-hospital mortality rate among those diagnosed.

Supporting Evidence

Anti-PF4/heparin antibodies were detected in 12.8% of patients treated with heparin.
Seven patients were diagnosed with potential HIT according to the 4Ts score.
Three patients were diagnosed with definite HIT, resulting in an incidence of 1.7%.
The in-hospital mortality rate for definite HIT patients was 66.7%.
Clinical severity and outcomes were worse for patients diagnosed with definite HIT.

Takeaway

This study looked at patients who had a stroke and were treated with heparin. It found that a small number of them developed a serious condition called HIT, which can be very dangerous.

Methodology

A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in three stroke centers, collecting clinical data and blood samples to test for anti-platelet factor 4/heparin antibodies.