Heidrich H, Kahl K, Penninger C, Bechstein B, Birkenmaier M, Dressler S, Fahrig C, Helmis J, Herman G, von Knobloch U, Ladleif M, Meier K, Rudolph M, Schlich B, Wanke M, Zwernemann B
Innere Abteilung, Franziskus-Krankenhauses Berlin.
Med Klin (Munich). 1998 Jun 15;93(6):343-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03044677.
To investigate the influence of unfractionated heparin on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II.
In 162 patients with internal diseases treated therapeutically of prophylactically with unfractionated heparin (heparin sodium, heparin calcium), we carried out a prospective study to determine the incidence of HIT type I and II. 55.6% of the patients were female (n = 90) with an average age of 76.5 years (range: 25 to 96 years) and 44.4% male (n = 72) with an average age of 67.5 years (range: 17 to 93 years). A platelet count was taken regularly before the start of heparin treatment, on the first day of treatment and then every second day from day 5 to 20. Whenever HIT II was suspected, an HIPA test was performed.
Type I HIT occurred in 10%, type II in 3% of the cases. Two of the 5 patients with type II developed severe thrombotic complications.
In view of the high incidence of HIT, regular platelet counts should always be carried out in patients receiving heparin treatment.
