Heparin-Induced Fever in a Cardiac Transplant Candidate

Abstract

Patient admitted to intensive care units frequently have fevers. A less common cause for fever is a drug-induced fever. For patients who are candidates for heart transplantation, persistent fevers can place a hold on their transplant candidacy until the etiology is found and the fevers resolve. We present a case of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy who experienced fevers thought secondary to heparin that improved only with discontinuation of therapy and later underwent successful heart transplantation. Only three prior case reports of heparin-induced fevers are currently described in literature.