Autoimmune Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Diagnostic and Management Challenge After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Affiliation
Columbia St. Mary Hospital; Advocate Aurora Healthcare, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.Publication date
2023-10-20Subject
Neurology
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Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a commonly encountered condition, especially in inpatient settings, and is often attributed to high mortality and prolonged hospital stays. A rare entity, autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (aHIT) refers to a condition in which antiplatelet factor-4 (PF4) antibodies activate platelets even in the absence of heparin. Our patient presented 12 days after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with altered mental status and severe thrombocytopenia. Further work-up revealed acute thromboembolic cerebrovascular accident (CVA),�and the HIT antibody was positive. He was started on intravenous argatroban infusion with poor response. Platelet factor-4 antibodies were positive as well, and he was started on intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) therapy resulting in platelet recovery. This case is a reminder to consider autoimmune HIT, especially when platelet count fails to improve with conventional therapy.Citation
Batool A, Chaudhry S, Javaid A, Kenney A. Autoimmune Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Diagnostic and Management Challenge After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. Cureus. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45453. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45453. PMID: 37859883; PMCID: PMC10583616.PMID
37859883Publisher
Pubmed Centralae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.7759/cureus.45453