Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Pages: 634-635

Journal: Platelets

Volume number: 25

Issue number: 8

ISSN: 0953-7104

eISSN: 1369-1635

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3109/09537104.2013.849803

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Abstract: 
The more we come to understand the pathophysiology of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) syndrome, the more we realize that HIT is a rather unusual immune response. One peculiar feature of HIT is the transient character of the antibodies. After cessation of exposure to heparins, the antibodies tend to disappear after 40-100 days. If re-immunization occurs, it generally takes at least 4 days to redevelop antibodies (if they are formed at all). We report about a patient who most likely developed platelet-activating IgG-specific platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies after knee surgery, experienced a transient ischemic attack years later [when HIT was diagnosed by using PF4/heparin ELISA] and presented a high number of these antibodies even 4 years after this first diagnosis of HIT without further re-exposure to heparin.

Harvard Citation style: Birschmann, I., Gummert, J., Schirmer, U., Knabbe, C., Sachs, U. and Koster, A. (2014) Non-transient "self-sustaining" heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: 4-year persistence of a platelet-activating PF4/heparin-antibody status without heparin exposure, Platelets, 25(8), pp. 634-635. https://doi.org/10.3109/09537104.2013.849803

APA Citation style: Birschmann, I., Gummert, J., Schirmer, U., Knabbe, C., Sachs, U., & Koster, A. (2014). Non-transient "self-sustaining" heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: 4-year persistence of a platelet-activating PF4/heparin-antibody status without heparin exposure. Platelets. 25(8), 634-635. https://doi.org/10.3109/09537104.2013.849803