Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II: a serious hazard in preemptive renal transplantation: a case report

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II (HIT II), is an immune-mediated complication of heparin therapy, associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. Herein we have reported a case of a 23-year-old woman who developed HIT following a living related donor, preemptive, renal transplantation. The patient was preoperatively exposed to both unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin as she underwent five hemodialysis sessions. HIT caused right common and external iliac vein and renal graft artery thrombosis, resulting in graft loss. Heparin-free hemodialysis was continued, and the patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation by the direct thrombin inhibitor lepirudin for both the thromboses and for hemodialysis. Finally, she was accepted for the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis program. This report highlighted the importance of clinical awareness as far as previous heparin exposure is concerned for establishing an early diagnosis and delivering treatment of this life-threatening prothrombotic complication of heparin administration.