Inadequacy of current prevention strategies for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is one of the most difficult problems faci ng clinicians today. Despite recent understanding of the pathophysiology of this disorder, there are many unresolved issues about diagnosis, preventio n, and treatment. In this article, difficulties physicians encounter when f aced with a suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia patient will be revi ewed as well as our experience in 113 patients with heparin-induced thrombo cytopenia which highlights the failure of current preventive strategies for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The experience of using warfarin in 51 p atients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia will also be reviewed.