HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Course overview

HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA (HIT) IS A SEVERE COMPLICATION THAT CAN OCCUR IN PATIENTS EXPOSED TO ANY FORM OR AMOUNT OF HEPARIN PRODUCTS. A FALL IN PLATELET COUNTS AND A HYPERCOAGULABLE STATE CHARACTERIZE HIT. PATIENTS WHO EXPERIENCE HIT MAY ALSO DEVELOP THROMBOEMBOLIC COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN SINCE HEPARIN IS WIDELY USED FOR TREATMENT AND PROPHYLAXIS OF THROMBOEMBOLISM, LINE FLUSHES, AND HEPARIN-COATED CATHETERS. THIS ACTIVITY WILL REVIEW THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA AND HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.