The Incidence of Heparininduced Thrombocytopenia in Hospitalized Medical Patients Treated With Subcutaneous Unfractionated Heparin: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

The authors conducted a prospective cohort follow-up study in 598 medical patients to determine the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or venous thrombotic events as a complication of intravenous unfractionated heparin. Patients were admitted to two medical wards and treated with subcutaneous unfractionated heparin for either therapeutic or prophylactic indications. Platelet count was performed at baseline and then every 3 days. Based on the author's definition of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, five patients who received heparin for prophylactic indications developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Thromboembolic complications were more common in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (60%). The authors concluded that HIT and thromboembolic complications are relatively uncommon adverse effects of subcutaneous unfractionated heparin and suggest replacement of unfractionated heparins with low-molecular-weight heparins.