Circulation
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Argatroban anticoagulant therapy in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated syndrome caused by heparin. Complications range from thrombocytopenia to thrombocytopenia with thrombosis. We report a prospective, historical- controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, as anticoagulant therapy in patients with HIT or HIT with thrombosis syndrome (HITTS). ⋯ Argatroban anticoagulation, compared with historical control subjects, improves clinical outcomes in patients who have heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, without increasing bleeding risk.