Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Low blood platelet count as a result of the medication heparin. HIT (Heparin induced thrombocytopenia) is caused by the body forming antibodies to Heparin when it is bound to platelet factor4 (PF4) – a protein in the blood. These antibodies bind to the combination of Heparin and PF4 and activate platelets which in turn clump together and cause small clots in the blood stream and the platelet count falls. If major clots develops and block vessels – called thrombosis, the condition is even more serious and is called HITT (Heparin induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis). Heparin is used to treat and prevent abnormal blood clotting. In the face of HIT or HITT other agents must be used for this purpose. Direct thrombin (a blood clotting factor) inhibitors may be used. An oral direct thrombin inhibitor is under investigation for HIT as well. It is unsafe to give the standard oral anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) to patients with HIT and a platelet count under 150,000 as it can lead to warfarin induced skin necrosis (death of skin). Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia can be mild or serious and fatal.
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Prefix or combining form used before a vowel to refer to the liver. From the Greek hepar, liver.
- Hepatic artery
An artery that distributes blood to the liver, pancreas and gallbladder as well as to the stomach and duodenal portion of the small intestine.
- Hepatic
Having to do with the liver.
- Hepatic duct
the right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right half of the liver); the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left half of the liver); and the common hepatic duct (which is formed by the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts).
- Hepatic ductular hypoplasia, syndromatic
Also called Alagille syndrome or arteriohepatic dysplasia, this is a genetic disorder characterized by jaundice in the newborn period, liver disease with cholestasis, peripheral pulmonic stenosis and unusual face. Children with Alagille syndrome usually present with jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) in the newborn period. Cholestasis (stagnant flow of bile […]