Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Coagulation Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients
Published on: August 4, 2023
Is low serum albumin level a significant predictor for the development of heparin-induced
Fahad A S Al-Eidan1,2, J A Al-Gramish3,4, H A Al-Zamil5,6
1College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. faleidan@gmail.com.
The present study investigates the effect of albumin levels in patients who have developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia-thrombosis (HITT). A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at King Abudlaziz Medical City (KAMC), a university teaching hospital, on patients diagnosed with HIT between June 2013 and December 2014. Clinical and laboratory findings were used to confirm HIT. Albumin levels were reported on admission as baseline and during HIT occurrence. Twenty-eight patients were identified as HIT positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with a cutoff value of ≥1 optical density units and pretest probability "4Ts" score of ≥4. Of the 28 patients, nine (32%) developed HITT. Demographic characteristics of the patients who developed HIT and HITT were similar. The mean albumin level for patients who developed HITT was significantly lower than that for patients who developed HIT (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that patients with low serum albumin levels are at greater risk of developing HITT. This finding awaits confirmation in larger prospective clinical trials.
The present study investigates the effect of albumin levels in patients who have developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia-thrombosis (HITT). A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at King Abudlaziz Medical City (KAMC), a university teaching hospital, on patients diagnosed with HIT between June 2013 and December 2014. Clinical and laboratory findings were used to confirm HIT. Albumin levels were reported on admission as baseline and during HIT occurrence. Twenty-eight patients were identified as HIT positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with a cutoff value of ≥1 optical density units and pretest probability "4Ts" score of ≥4. Of the 28 patients, nine (32%) developed HITT. Demographic characteristics of the patients who developed HIT and HITT were similar. The mean albumin level for patients who developed HITT was significantly lower than that for patients who developed HIT (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that patients with low serum albumin levels are at greater risk of developing HITT. This finding awaits confirmation in larger prospective clinical trials.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

