Severe Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Case Report
Author Information
Author(s): Cormack Graham M, Kaufman Larry J
Primary Institution: University of Hawaii, and St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
Hypothesis
Is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) being overlooked in patients with thrombocytopenia?
Conclusion
The case highlights the importance of considering HIT in patients with thrombocytopenia and recent heparin exposure.
Supporting Evidence
- HIT occurs in approximately 0.5% of patients with occult exposure to heparin.
- Thrombocytopenia in HIT can occur rapidly, even within hours after heparin exposure.
- Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, patients with HIT can experience severe outcomes, including limb amputation.
Takeaway
Sometimes, when people get sick in the hospital, their blood can have fewer platelets, which can be dangerous. This case shows that a medicine called heparin can cause this problem, and doctors need to be careful to check for it.
Methodology
Case report detailing the clinical course of a patient with severe HIT.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in diagnosis due to initial misattribution of symptoms.
Limitations
The case is based on a single patient, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
75-year-old Hawaiian-Chinese female.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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