PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - Wilke, William S.
AU  - Caiola, Enrico
TI  - Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: How to manage it, how to avoid it
DP  - 2000 Sep 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 621--624
VI  - 67
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/67/9/621.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/67/9/621.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2000 Sep 01; 67
AB  - Heparin therapy has two potential adverse effects: bleeding and heparin-Induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). There are two types of HIT: type I is more common but less severe; type II occurs less frequently but involves severe thrombocytopenia and a high risk for thrombotic events. Treatment involves discontinuing heparin, allowing the platelet count to return to normal, and treating any thrombosis. Lepirudin (Refludan) is the only agent currently approved for the treatment of HIT-related thrombosis, but other agents may have a role in combination therapy. Prevention includes using low molecular weight heparin instead of unfractionated heparin and limiting unfractionated heparin therapy to less than 5 days.