Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the intensive care setting

HIT is a serious iatrogenic complication of heparin treatments. The diagnosis of HIT is difficult in the intensive care setting because thrombocytopenia is a frequent and multifactorial phenomenon. The aim of this work was to study the clinicobiological picture of patients with HIT as well as the consequences attributable to HIT on the evolution of the patients, in terms of morbidity and mortality, and to establish a diagnostic strategy for HIT adapted to intensive care patients. HIT is a pathology that remains rare. No predisposing factor for the occurrence of the disease has been identified in a uniform ICU population. The diagnosis of HIT is based on a combination of arguments and not on an isolated event. Biological tools are essential, in addition to the clinical picture.