HEPARIN INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA:
A REVIEW
IRINA VOICAN1*, MINODORA ONISAI2, ANCA NICOLESCU1,
ANA MARIA VLADAREANU2, RADU VLADAREANU3
1Hematology Department, Emergency University Hospital, 169 Splaiul
Independentei 050098, Bucharest, Romania
2Hematology Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and
Pharmacy, 6 Traian Vuia Str 020956, Bucharest, Romania
3Obstetric/Gynecology Department, Elias Emergency University
Hospital, 17 Marasti Blv 0114611, Bucharest, Romania
*corresponding author: voicanirina@yahoo.com
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Abstract:

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare but serious complication of heparin use. It is a prothrombotic, antibody-mediated condition in which thrombocytopenia associates thrombosis in a clinical picture that is often challenging for the clinician because of the difficulties of diagnosis and of therapy as well. In daily practice, HIT diagnosis relies mostly on clinical aspects and immunologic assays as the functional tests are not routinely
performed, which along with the clinician`s fear not to miss the diagnosis have made this condition to be overestimated nowadays.
The aim of this article is to review the main diagnosis and management aspects of this dangerous complication in the light of the increasing use of heparin in a wider variety of clinical settings.

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