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Heparin-Induced Skin Lesions and Other Unusual Sequelae of the Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Syndrome^*

A Nested Cohort Study

^* From the Departments of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Dr. Warkentin), Medicine (Drs. Hirsh and Kelton), and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Prof. Roberts), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Correspondence to: Theodore E. Warkentin, MD, Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Sciences, General Site, 237 Barton St East, Hamilton, ON, L8L 2X2 Canada; e-mail: twarken{at}mcmaster.ca

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by platelet-activating, heparin-dependent IgG antibodies (HIT-IgG). Although HIT is known to predispose the patient to thrombosis, the relationship between the formation of HIT-IgG and various other unusual clinical sequelae putatively linked with the HIT syndrome, such as heparin-induced skin lesions and acute anaphylactoid reactions following treatment with an IV heparin bolus, is not clear.

Methods: We used data from a clinical trial of postoperative heparin prophylaxis to compare the frequency of one or more predefined unusual clinical sequelae developing in 20 patients who formed platelet-activating HIT-IgG with 80 control patients who did not form HIT-IgG (nested cohort study).

Results: Five of the 20 patients in whom HIT-IgG developed had one or more unusual clinical sequelae, compared with none of 80 control patients (25% vs 0%, respectively; odds ratio, ; 95% confidence interval, 4.3 to ; p < 0.001). The unusual complications included heparin-induced erythematous or necrotic skin lesions (n = 4), an anaphylactoid reaction following IV heparin bolus use (n = 1), and warfarin-associated venous limb ischemia (n = 1). Thrombocytopenia, as it is conventionally defined (ie, platelet count fall to < 150 x 10⁹ cells/L) developed in only one of these five patients.

Conclusions: Certain unusual clinical sequelae, such as heparin-induced skin lesions, are strongly associated with the formation of HIT-IgG and should be considered as manifestations of the HIT syndrome, even in the absence of thrombocytopenia as conventionally defined.

Key Words: anaphylactoid reaction • heparin • IgG • skin lesions • thrombocytopenia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. E. Warkentin Think of HIT When Thrombosis Follows Heparin. Chest, September 1, 2006; 130(3): 631 - 632. [Full Text] [PDF]