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Immunobiology of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

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The Chemokine System in Experimental and Clinical Hematology

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 341))

Abstract

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially life-threatening adverse drug reaction that may develop in certain patients exposed to heparin and is caused by antibodies with specificity for chemokine CXCL4 (formerly known as platelet factor 4)/heparin complexes. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is key to prevent severe thrombotic complications. The immunobiology of HIT is atypical as the immune reaction most often involves rapid generation of immunoglobulin class G within 5–14 days after heparin exposure, and apparently lacks memory as patients may be reexposed to heparin. This report reviews clinical presentation, diagnostic issues, and immunobiology of HIT.

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Abbreviations

HIT:

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Ig:

Immunoglobulin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, 0407, Oslo, Norway

    Per Morten Sandset

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  1. Per Morten Sandset
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Correspondence to Per Morten Sandset .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Medicine, Div. Infectious Diseases, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, 5021, Norway

    Oystein Bruserud

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Sandset, P.M. (2010). Immunobiology of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia. In: Bruserud, O. (eds) The Chemokine System in Experimental and Clinical Hematology. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 341. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2010_17

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