Thrombocytopenia associated with minidose heparin therapy

Thrombocytopenia developed in an elderly woman who was being treated for an impacted fracture of the right femoral neck. The complication was attributed to heparin because the platelet count decreased each time the drug was administered, and when the drug was stopped, the count increased. By the time of death, the patient's platelet count had dropped to 30,000/cu mm. This case is presented to alert physicians to the possibility of thrombocytopenia with the prophylactic use of minidose heparin.