Preservation of Heparin-Bonded Prosthetic Graft for Hemodialysis in the Setting of Early Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts are increasingly used for dialysis access in lieu of standard ePTFE grafts to improve patency. Despite no established association between heparin-bonded graft placement and formation of platelet antibodies, cases of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) have been observed after use of lower extremity heparin-bonded grafts, often resulting in their explantation. We report a rare case of HIT in the setting of recent heparin-bonded ePTFE arteriovenous graft placement and successful treatment of the condition with preservation of dialysis access.