Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia due to heparin lock in a hemodialysis patient: a case report.

[heparin-induced thrombocytopenia]

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT ) is a potentially fatal clinical condition which can develop after exposure to unfractionated or low -molecular-weight heparins . Even small doses of heparin such as heparin flushes in hemodialysis catheter can induce the development of HIT . However , the true incidence of heparin lock-related HIT is unknown . We report a 58 -year -old woman with acute kidney injury because of obstructive uropathy who developed HIT after heparin-free hemodialysis . She was found to have severe thrombocytopenia with deep vein thrombosis of left lower limb and arterial thrombosis of the right anterior and middle cerebral arteries . The heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody was positive and she was put on plasmapharesis . However , her condition further deteriorated and succumbed shortly . Heparin lock solution in the hemodialysis catheter was believed to be the cause of HIT in our patient .