Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Summarizes research in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an antibody-mediated prothrombotic drug reaction without parallel in clinical medicine. Views HIT as a clinicopathologic syndrome, and stresses the importance of in vivo thrombin generation in the pathogenesis of HIT. Describes HIT's variable frequency and clinical presentation among different populations treated with heparin. Specific subjects include immune vascular injury in HIT, laboratory testing, hemodialysis, and legal aspects. Warkentin teaches pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster University, Canada.