Editor’s Note: The use of alternatives to heparin in terms of managing anicoagulation doesn’t come up often. It’s easy to get a bit rusty when it comes to using exotic agents such as Ancrod (Hirudin), Angiomax and similar agents. So here is a brief refresher, and as always- a disclaimer here: Use this information with […]
Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia I. DESCRIPTION: Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and heparin induced thrombocytopenia thrombosis syndrome (HITTS) are immune mediated complications of heparin therapy. An antibody, produced by the body upon initial exposure to heparin, reacts with an antigen upon re-exposure or continuous exposure to heparin. HIT is characterized by a dramatic decrease in platelet […]