[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: review of the literature and description of 2 clinical cases].

We present a literary review regarding heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and we report two cases. The first case regards a female patient with a suspect pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Low platelet count was observed already during sub-cutaneous heparin therapy but was aggravated by subsequent intra-venous treatment. The second patient developed thrombocytopenia only after intra-venous heparin infusion while previous sub-cutaneous heparin prophylaxis had not caused low platelet count. In both patients platelet counts normalized rapidly only a few hours after withdrawal of heparin treatment. We therefore point out the importance of the correct monitoring of platelet counts for a timely detection and prevention of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and possible consequent paradoxical thrombosis.