Submitted by Dr LAU Chun Wing Arthur, ICU, PYNEH, Hong Kong, 5 June 2009
Regarding heparin and thrombocytopenia, which of the following is correct?
A. All thrombocytopenia associated with the use of heparin is immune-mediated
B. Immune HIT is more common in unfractionated heparin than LMWH (10 – 30% vs 1 to 3 % respectively)
C. The presence of HIT Ab alone, though not a sensitive test, is enough to diagnose HIT
D. Heparin-coated catheter or very low amount of heparin can be used once HIT has subsided.
Answer: B
Reference
Eduard Shantsila, MD*, Gregory Y. H. Lip, MD and Beng H. Chong, MD. Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia – A Contemporary Clinical Approach to Diagnosis and Management. CHEST June 2009 vol. 135 no. 6 1651-1664
Go to read the abstract here.