Abstract
Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia is a serious medical problem, especially when the patient requires continued anticoagulation. Hirulog is an immediate-acting intravenous anticoagulant that can be substituted for heparin. A new use of Hirulog in the treatment of life-threatening heparin-associated thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HATT) is presented. Two patients suffering from the HATT syndrome were successfully treated with Hirulog to prevent further thrombosis. A third patient had developed heparin-associated thrombocytopenia after coronary artery bypass surgery in the past and was subsequently treated with Hirulog during a peripheral angioplasty procedure. Hirulog was an effective and predictable anticoagulant for these patients and was free from adverse effects.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Angioplasty, Balloon
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Anticoagulants / adverse effects
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Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
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Coronary Artery Bypass / adverse effects
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Coronary Thrombosis / blood
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Coronary Thrombosis / drug therapy*
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Coronary Thrombosis / surgery
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Heparin / adverse effects*
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Hirudin Therapy
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Hirudins / administration & dosage
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Hirudins / analogs & derivatives*
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Humans
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Injections, Intravenous
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Male
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Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
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Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use*
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Postoperative Complications
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Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
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Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
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Thrombin / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced*
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Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy
Substances
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Anticoagulants
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Hirudins
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Peptide Fragments
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Recombinant Proteins
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Heparin
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Thrombin
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bivalirudin