Clinical presentation and laboratory diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II is an immune mediated reaction in which pathologic antibodies develop to a complex composed of heparin and the platelet-derived alpha granule protein, platelet factor 4 (PF4). HIT must be recognized quickly so as to eliminate all heparin exposure from a patient's clinical care. Thrombosis (HIT) may accompany thrombocytopenia resulting in limb and life-threatening complications. Despite a higher incidence of subclinically detectable heparin-PF4 antibody formation in the cardiac care setting, the development of the full clinicopathologic syndrome occurs in approximately 2% to 3% of patients, similar to the incidence in other clinical scenarios.