Volume 1, Issue 24, 06/29/2009
What is the mechanism by which heparin and low-molecular weight heparins (LMWH; dalteparin, enoxaparin, tinzaparin) cause heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or a significant decrease in platelets?
This is part 1 of a 4 part series related to heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Due to the number of clinical issues related to this adverse drug event, Pharmacology Weekly has chosen to describe them in a series of newsletters. This topic is important given the world-wide use of heparin and low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in both the outpatient and inpatient settings for a number of common conditions including acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation, dialysis, surgery, and prevention or treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE).1
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