Platelet count monitoring and laboratory testing for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVE: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an antibody-mediated adverse drug reaction that paradoxically is associated with a brief but dramatically increased risk for thrombosis (transient acquired thrombophilia). The objective of this article is to provide practical recommendations for platelet count monitoring in patients receiving heparin, as well as for selection of laboratory assays to detect pathogenic HIT antibodies. STUDY …