Landmark pathogenesis

Babcock R.B., Dumper C.W., Scharfman W.B.

Heparin-induced immune thrombocytopenia.
NEJM 295:237-241.
PubMed citation number: 945459.

Visentin GP, Ford SE, Scott JP, Aster RH.

Antibodies from patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia/thrombosis are specific for platelet factor 4 complexed with heparin or bound to endothelial cells.
J Clin Invest Jan 1994; 93:81-8.
Description: Identifies antibody to platelet factor 4 complexed with heparin are etiology of platelet activation in patients with HIT.
PubMed citation number: 8282825.

Greinacher A, Potzsch B, Amiral J, Dummel V, Eichener A, Mueller-Eckhardt C.

Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia: isolation of the antibody and characterization of a multimolecular PF-4-heparin complex as the major antigen. Thromb Haemost Feb 1994; 71:247-51.
Description: Heparin complexed with platelet factor 4 is major antigen in HIT.

Landmark clinical diagnosis

Warkentin T.E., Kelton J.G.

Temporal aspects of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
NEJM 344:1286-92. April 26, 2001.
Description: Describes characteristics that effect variations in the temporal onset of HIT.
PubMed citation number: 11320387.

Warkentin T.E. Levine M.N., Hirsh J. Horsewood P., Roberts R.S. Gent M. Kelton J.G.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients treated with low-molecular-weight heparin or unfractionated heparin.
NEJM 18:332:1330-1335.
Description: LMWH have lower incidence of inducing HIT than unfractionated heparin.
PubMed citation number: 7715641.

Sheridan D, Carter C, Kelton JG.

A diagnostic test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Blood 67:27-30. Jan, 1986.
Description: Describes development of the serotonin release assay – the gold standard for diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
PubMed citation number: 3940551.

Eichler, P, Budde, U, Haas, S, Kroll, H, Loreth, RM & Meyer, O, et al.

First workshop for detection of heparin-induced antibodies: validation of the heparin-induced platelet-activation test (HIPA) in comparison with a PF4/heparin ELISA.
Thromb Haemost. 1999;81:625–9.
Description: Reviews characteristics of diagnostic tests for HIT.

Landmark treatment

Warkentin TE, Kelton JG.

A 14-year study of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Am J Med Nov 1996; 101:502-7.
Description: Patients with HIT and isolated thrombocytopenia are at high risk of thrombosis and require anti-coagulation in addition to cessation of heparin.
PubMed citation number: 8948273.

Wallis DE, Workman DL, Lewis BE, Steen L, Pifarre R, Moran JF.

Failure of early heparin cessation as treatment for heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
Am J Med Jun 1999;106:629-35.
Description: Patients with HIT and isolated thrombocytopenia are at high risk of thrombosis and require anti-coagulation in addition to cessation of heparin.
PubMed citation number: 10378620.

Farner B, Eichler P, Kroll H, Greinacher A.

A comparison of danaparoid and lepirudin in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Thromb Haemost Jun 2001; 85:950-7. .
Description: Danaparoid and lepirudin are both effective for treatment of HIT but with different hemorrhagic risks.
PubMed citation number: 11434701

Lewis BE, Wallis DE, Berkowitz SD, Matthai WH, Fareed J, Walenga JM, Bartholomew J, Sham R, Lerner RG, Zeigler ZR, Rustagi PK, Jang IK, Rifkin SD, Moran J, Hursting MJ, Kelton JG.

Argatroban anticoagulant therapy in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Circulation April 10, 2001; 103:1838-43.
Description: Argatroban is option for anticoagulation inpatients with HIT.
PubMed citation number: 11294800

Mahaffey KW, Lewis BE, Wildermann NM, Berkowitz SD, Oliverio RM, Turco MA, Shalev Y, Ver Lee P, Traverse JH, Rodriguez AR, Ohman EM, Harrington RA, Califf RM.

The anticoagulant therapy with bivaliruding to assist in the performance of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (ATBAT) study: main results.
J Invasive Cardiol 15:611-6. Nov, 2003.
Description: Bivaliruding appears to be safe method for providing anti-coagulation during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with HIT.
PubMed citation number: 14608128.

Review articles

TE Warkentin.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: pathogenesis and management.
British J Haematology May 2003; 121:535-55.
PubMed citation number: 12752095.

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