We test for this antibody on-site as of December 2004. As to the thrombocytopenic category, there is physiological HIT-I and immunological (bad) HIT-II. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy (especially unfractionated heparin [UFH]), with a high risk of potentially catastrophic venous or arterial thrombosis (HITTS) and high mortality. Our group knows of a local death in 2004 that may have been due to HITTS. As with so many other situations in medical diagnosis, arriving at a correct diagnosis requires discerning clinical acumen. The HIT antibody disappears to non-detectibility in about 100 days; so, a pre-therapeutic screening testing is not logical.

 Heparin fragments with molecular weights larger than 5,000 Kd...in highest concentration in unfractionated heparin (UFH) preparations...are needed to generate HIT IgG antibodies (theoretically, there may be rare IgA or IgM cases). Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH...such as Lovenox) doses have a half-life of 17 hours; UFH preps have a half-life of 90 minutes³. Older data suggest that about 15-40% of UFH recipients develop antibodies. And 3-15% on low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) develop antibodies (they can mount detectible levels of anti-h/pf4 antibody [synonym, H-PF4] but without without precipitating any syndrome³). Sensitizing heparin exposure can even come from such unremarkable events as "heparin flushes" of IV lines. Of those who develop the anti-HIT antibody, about a third (33%) get an arterial or venous thrombosis if the heparin is not promptly discontinued & a non-coumadin alternative anticoagulation (often using direct thrombin inhibitors) promptly instituted. Thrombosis in HITTS is associated with a mortality of approximately 20% to 30%, with an equal number becoming permanently disabled by amputation, stroke, or other causes! As to the thrombocytopenic category, there is physiological HIT-I and immunological (bad) HIT-II.

HIT-II (dangerous type) Incidence:

• with UFH: 1-4% given this type of heparin.
• with LMWH: 0.5-0.8% given this type of heparin.

Diagnosis:

(a) HIT-I: A transient, non-immune physiological drop in platelet count within 1st 5 days of therapy is seen pretty commonly, is usually clinically inconsequential "HIT-type-I" [HIT-I] , and HIT-type-I essentially never drops the count by as much as 50%³ or greater.
(b) (bad) HIT-II: Immunological & potentially dangerous "virginal"...a primary antibody response...HIT-type-II happens between days 5-21 (most commonly days 5-7) after first heparin dose and is defined as a platelet count drop of 50% or to less than 100,000 plus demonstration of the presence of the antibody (a dynamic presence which could be at relatively consumed levels & not detected on initial testing).
(c) Caution: a current heparin re-exposure following a subclinical sensitizing event in the past can result in a more rapid anamnestic onset thrombocytopenia in HIT-II which initially resembles HIT-I.

• HIT-I: drop in platelet count in 1st 3-5 days in one never having previously had heparin exposure; PHYSIOLOGICAL & not due to antibody; not dangerous; DON'T D/C heparin.
• HIT-II: drop in platelet count days 5-7 (to 21; rarely, as re-exposure case, much quicker); ANTIBODY triggered.
• thrombocytopenia NOS: must always keep in mind that there are many other causes of thrombocytopenia!
• Lab tests: we have two in house and one radio-immunometric sendout...
  1. polyclonal anti-heparin-PF4 screen: is in-house (detects IgA & IgM etiology cases but has lots of false positives) & a screen & if positive reflex to,
  2. IgG-specific monoclonal anti-heparin-PF4: in-house & catches 80+% & if positive, remove heparin therapy. If negative, reflex to reference lab for SRA (serotonin release assay). Where PF4 screen is positive & IgG negative, remove heparin if 2 or more clinical criteria of HITTS are present.

TREATMENT of HITT:

1. if HITT seems possible, D/C heparin promptly, and

2. order  the HIT test, and

3. do not institute Coumadin, and...as to anticoagulation coverage...consider the UFH or LMWH half lives, above, as to length of time patient might be "naked" of anticoagulation effect, and how long it will take to get the HITT test result, and estimated clinical risk of "going naked" until test result is known.

4. consider adding alternative anticoagulation...most commonly being direct thrombin inhibitors such as Lepirudin...especially if the thrombocytopenia is precipitous and obviously associated with new thrombosis. Some cases can mount a much slower antibody rise and be initially test-negative or borderline. And some mount an antibody response that does not seem functionally important clinically.

On site availability of this test allows rapid differentiation of thrombocytopenic onset of dangerous HIT-II from innocuous HIT-I and other thrombocytopenias.

SUMMARY:

HIT-II is due to an antibody (usually an IgG) that recognizes heparin bound to platelet factor 4 (PF4) on the platelet surface. The antibody binds to the heparin/PF4 complex (H-PF4), which then allows the antibody to also bind the Fc (gamma) IIc receptor on the platelet membrane (as well as on monocytes and endothelial cells).¹⁴ It is "anti-h/pf4 antibody" interaction with the Fc receptor that activates the platelet, resulting in immune-type platelet loss (thrombocytopenia) and platelet aggregation (thrombosis). When thrombosis is manifest, the patient has HITT (heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis) or HITTS (heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis syndrome) . A minority of cases of HIT may involve an antigen other than the PF4-heparin complex (and, therefore, another platelet activating antibody).¹⁵

At this time, we do not have a functional test to follow up a positive antibody to see if the antibody is actually what is affecting the patient's platelet count.

At the end of 2011, we began reporting the raw optical density (OD) results, too.

References:

1. ARUP's excellent discussion, HERE.
2. Breddin HK, "Introduction: Is Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Still a Medical Problem?", 2004.
3. Armstrong WR, memo to LMC physicians. Dec. 2004 & Jan. 2005; & 18 April 2005 note & various personal communications.
4. Breddin HK, "Is Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Still a Medical Problem?". Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia and Beyond, 18 July 2003 Suppl. to Thrombosis & Hemostasis (journal...WRA).

(posted about 2005; latest additions 19 December 2011)