Adequate Management of Heparin-Associated Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

In a recent issue of Nephron Berlot and Lucchese [1] reported their management of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia (HAT) during continuous venovenous hemofiltration. They described a case of rapid onset of severe thrombocytopenia after initiating intravenous heparin therapy and stated ‘that the diagnostic criteria for HAT have been completely fulfilled’. Despite of that, they reported a continuation of heparin therapy at lower doses without recovery of platelet counts at that stage and at last the slow return of platelet counts into the normal range more than 1 week after finishing intravenous heparin therapy. With reference to the current literature and the clinical experience in our hospital, this approach does not seem to be adequate.