Heparinem indukovaná trombocytopenie.

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) represents a very serious complication of heparin therapy associated with high morbidity and/or mortality. HIT is caused by generation of antibodies against macromolecular complexes of heparin/platelet factor 4 resulting in activation of platelets, monocytes, endothelium and neutrophils with subsequent high thrombin generation and induction of a hypercoagulable state. Therapy with heparins must be interrupted and alternative non-heparin antithrombotics must be introduced. The dia-gnosis of HIT is based on clinical findings namely the so called 4T score and laboratory tests. Immunological tests have a high negative predictive value in excluding HIT. In positive cases, the dia-gnosis must be confirmed by functional tests. Novel developments in the therapy of HIT include the introduction of the new direct oral anticoagulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]