Nefrología : publicación oficial de la Sociedad Española Nefrologia
-
Review Case Reports
[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in hemodialysis. Case report and review of the literature].
Thrombocytopenia is a potential complication of heparin therapy. There are two forms of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Type-I HIT is characterized by a mild decrease in platelet count that occurs within the first 2-4 days after heparin initiation. ⋯ The mechanism of thrombocytopenia appears to be due to a direct effect of heparin on platelet activation. The second form (type-II) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, which may include both arterial and venous thrombosis. We present a case of type-II HIT occurred in a hemodialysis patient resulting in acute pulmonary embolism and peripheral venous thrombosis, and review the literature.