Vnitr Lek 2010, 56(Suppl 1):55-57

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in children threated with low-molecular weight heparins. Is there any reason to misgiving?

O. Zapletal^1,*, J. Blatný¹, J. Štarha²

¹ Oddělení klinické hematologie FN Brno, Dětská nemocnice, Centrum pro trombózu a hemostázu, primář prof. MUDr. Miroslav Penka, CSc.

² Pediatrická klinika Lékařské fakulty MU a FN Brno, Dětská nemocnice, přednosta prof. MUDr. Zdeněk Doležel, CSc.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is relatively common adverse event of the treatment with heparins. Authors review available published data on ethiology, epidemiology, diagnostics, clinical findings and treatment options of HIT in general, but also point out certain specific issues related to HIT in children. We also present a case report of 5-month old infant with primary diagnosis of short bowel syndrome, who developed HIT. We do confirm that HIT is rare complication of heparin treatment in children. Incidence of HIT is smaller when using low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) than unfractioned heparin (UFH). Nevertheless HIT should be always considered within differential diagnosis in the child with thrombocytopenia treated with heparins and/or in case of poor therapeutic response (or even progression) of thrombosis in such a patient.

Keywords: heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; children; heparin

Received: April 13, 2010; Published: February 1, 2010  Show citation