HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA WITH THR OMBOSIS

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with thrombosis is a rare, but important complication of heparin therapy. We describe the case of a 5 3-year-old patient hospitalized with complicated pelvic fracture. Intr avenous infusion of unfractionated heparin (15'000 IU/24 h) was given for thrombosis prevention. After 11 days' treatment the patient develo ped deep venous thrombosis of the left calf, complicated 2 days later by massive bilateral pulmonary embolism. Simultaneous with these throm boembolic events, thrombocytopenia, signs of activated coagulation, an d antibodies to heparin occurred. In the context of this case the diag nostic and therapeutic possibilities of HIT, and in particular treatme nt with the heparinoid danaproid (Orgaran(R)), are discussed.