PMID: 2499837May 1, 1989Paper

Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia: a complication of low-dose heparin prophylaxis

Military Medicine
J K Cottingham, J B Wheelock

Abstract

The authors describe a 61-year-old white female who received low-dose heparin prophylaxis in conjunction with a radical vulvectomy with abdomino-perineal resection for stage III Bartholin gland carcinoma and subsequently developed heparin-associated thrombocytopenia with thrombosis. This phenomenon occurs in 0.1% of patients exposed to heparin therapy and has been reported as having a mortality rate of 29% and a 21% rate of limb loss. It is thought to be caused by a heparin-dependent IgG platelet-aggregating antibody. Because of the widespread use of heparin prophylaxis in surgery, the clinician needs to be aware of this complication.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Basal cell carcinoma is a form of malignant skin cancer found on the head and neck regions and has low rates of metastasis. Discover the latest research on basal cell carcinoma here.

Related Papers

European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology
V RainaldiL Cavazzini
Annals of Internal Medicine
D J King, John G Kelton
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved