Inadequacy of current prevention strategies for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

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