HITT and stent thrombosis: a "clinical" diagnosis not to be missed

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT) syndrome is a rare but potentially life threatening disorder, which is increasingly recognized with the widespread use of heparin. We report a rare case of early stent thrombosis secondary to HITT in a patient initially presenting with cardiogenic shock, which occurred 9 days after primary bare metal stent implantation due to subcutaneous heparin exposure. The most important factor in detection of HITT remains a high index of clinical suspicion and close monitoring of the temporal trend of thrombocytopenia, particularly when trying to distinguish HITT from other sources of thrombocytopenia seen in critically ill patients.