Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) ar rare complications associated with use of unfractionate heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) HIT is a benign clinical condition characterized by a mil drop in platelet count with no clinical significance. HIT is an immune-mediated reaction associated with a wide spread "hypercoagulable" state resulting in arterial an venous thrombosis. There is a higher incidence of HIT with UFH use than with LMWH use. Orthopedic surger patients are at higher risk for developing HITT than are patients who receive prophylactic heparin for cardiovascular surgery or medical reasons. Therapy for patients suspected of having HITT should begin with immedi ate discontinuation of heparin in any form followed by pharmacologic inhibition with thrombin (e.g., recombinant hirudin [lepirudin], argatroban, danaparoid sodium).

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

HIT/HITT review focused on orthopedic surgery patients identifying higher risk than cardiovascular patients with recommendation for lepirudin, argatroban or danaparoid alternative anticoagulation.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

Explore how this research connects to clinical practice

More peer-reviewed studies in Drug Development.

• Novel Leech Antimicrobial Peptides — Hirunipins — Kumar et al. (2025)
• Medicinal Leech Genome Assembly — Anticoagulant Gene Catalog — Kvist et al. (2020)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Medicinal leech therapy (hirudotherapy): a brief overview — Singh A (2010)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Investigation of oxidant-antioxidant status in patients treated with hirudotherapy: an experimental study — Sarikan I, Savas H (2024)
• Leech therapeutic applications — Abdualkader A et al. (2013)
• Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia Due to Hirudotherapy: A Case Report — Akalın Ç, Ekmen N (2020)
• Leech therapy: a history — Hyson J (2005)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →