Potentially life-threatening emergency
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

There are two types of HIT. Type 1 is the most common form and is a nonimmune-mediated reaction in which platelet count will drop soon after exposure to heparin (can be as early as the first day of treatment) but will return to normal once the heparin is discontinued. Type 2 is an immune- or antibody-mediated reaction that takes 5-14 days after the start of heparin treatment to manifest. If a patient has been exposed to heparin and developed antibodies in the past, however, type 2 HIT can develop in the first day of treatment. The patient can develop hypercoagulability with high morbidity (10%) and mortality (20%).
Codes
ICD10CM:D75.82 – Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
SNOMEDCT:
73397007 – Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Liver disease
- Bleeding
- Hemodilution
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Myelosuppression causing thrombocytopenia
- Other drug-induced thrombocytopenia
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:12/04/2019
Last Updated:01/23/2020
Last Updated:01/23/2020