Correction of Severe Heparin-Associated Thrombocytopenia with Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Abstract

Brief Reports1 December 1989Correction of Severe Heparin-Associated Thrombocytopenia with Intravenous ImmunoglobulinJames N. Frame, MD, Kevin P. Mulvey, MD, John C. Phares, MD, Michael J. Anderson, MDJames N. Frame, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Kevin P. Mulvey, MDSearch for more papers by this author, John C. Phares, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Michael J. Anderson, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-11-946 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHeparin-associated thrombocytopenia develops in approximately 5% of patients treated with heparin (1) and generally occurs after 2 to 10 days of therapy (2). While platelets usually increase to over 100 X 109/L within 2 to 19 days after heparin discontinuation (3), this disorder rarely causes clinical bleeding or warrants platelet transfusion. We report the first case of severe heparin-associated thrombocytopenia complicated by intestinal bleeding and progressive thrombocytopenia that had intestinal bleeding stopped and normal platelet counts restored shortly after the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin.Case ReportA 62-year-old woman was referred to us with a 5-day history of deep venous...