Over-testing for heparin induced thrombocytopenia in hospitalized patients

• Published in: Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 12 - 16
• Main Authors: Chaturvedi, Shruti, Kohli, Ruhail, McCrae, Keith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Anticoagulants - adverse effects; Cardiology; Female; Hematology; Heparin - adverse effects; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Platelet Count - standards; Thrombocytopenia - blood; Thrombocytopenia - chemically induced; Thrombocytopenia - diagnosis; Unnecessary Procedures - methods; Unnecessary Procedures - standards; Thrombocytopenia; Anti-Heparin/PF4 ELISA; 4T score; Screening test; Heparin induced thrombocytopenia; Pre-test probability

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a pro-thrombotic and potentially fatal complication of heparin therapy. Its diagnosis rests on high clinical probability and the laboratory demonstration of anti-PF4/heparin antibodies. The high prevalence of thrombocytopenia in hospitalized patients and the...