scholarly journals Profiling Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Antibodies in Hospitalized Patients With and Without Diabetes

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (9_suppl) ◽  
pp. 294S-300S
Author(s):  
Margaret Prechel ◽  
Susan Hudec ◽  
Elizabeth Lowden ◽  
Vicki Escalante ◽  
Nicholas Emanuele ◽  
...  

Heparin (H) anticoagulation in populations characterized by elevated platelet factor 4 (PF4) frequently elicits PF4/H antibodies, presenting a risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Recent studies have shown that anti-PF4/H enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) detect antibodies in individuals never exposed to heparin. Platelet factor 4/H cross-reactive antibodies may result from PF4-mediated defense responses to injury or infection. This study questioned whether patients with diabetes are more likely to develop the endogenous cross-reactive antibodies. A comparison of healthy volunteers versus hospitalized patients with or without diabetes showed no significant differences in the prevalence of PF4/H ELISA-positive results. However, the group of patients who had both diabetes and an infectious condition had higher median antibody titer compared to other patients with or without diabetes regardless of reason for hospitalization. Higher PF4/H titers were also associated with patients with diabetes who were not on any medical therapy. In the future, determining whether PF4/H cross-reactive antibodies sensitize patients to respond adversely to heparin anticoagulation or predispose patients to other complications may be relevant to diabetes care.

1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (02) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
D A Lane ◽  
H Ireland ◽  
S Wolff ◽  
E Ranasinghe ◽  
J Dawes

SummaryDuring the platelet release reaction β-thromboglobulin (βTG), platelet factor 4 (PF4) and thrombospondin (TSP) are released from the platelet into plasma and assays of these proteins can be used to monitor in vivo platelet activation. We have assessed their relative merits as markers of the in vivo platelet α-granule release reaction in a number of patient groups which have previously been shown to have elevated plasma βTG and/or PF4 levels. It is concluded that in diseases or conditions not complicated by its reduced clearance, βTG is the most sensitive marker of in vivo platelet α-granule release. However, the TSP assay may be the least ambiguous when monitoring the platelet α-granule release reaction in patients with renal failure who are undergoing haemodialysis with heparin anticoagulation. Under these circumstances plasma βTG, but not PF4 or TSP, levels are elevated because of impaired renal catabolism, and the presence of a heparin-releasable reservoir of PF4 on the endothelium complicates the use of the PF4 assay. In liver failure none of these assays may accurately reflect platelet α-granule release because of impaired hepatic or renal elimination of the proteins.


2002 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Untch ◽  
Sarfraz Ahmad ◽  
Walter P. Jeske ◽  
Harry L. Messmore ◽  
Debra A. Hoppensteadt ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 1248-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystin Krauel ◽  
Christine Hackbarth ◽  
Birgitt Fürll ◽  
Andreas Greinacher

Abstract Heparin is a widely used anticoagulant. Because of its negative charge, it forms complexes with positively charged platelet factor 4 (PF4). This can induce anti-PF4/heparin IgG Abs. Resulting immune complexes activate platelets, leading to the prothrombotic adverse drug reaction heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT requires treatment with alternative anticoagulants. Approved for HIT are 2 direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI; lepirudin, argatroban) and danaparoid. They are niche products with limitations. We assessed the effects of the DTI dabigatran, the direct factor Xa-inhibitor rivaroxaban, and of 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin (ODSH; a partially desulfated heparin with minimal anticoagulant effects) on PF4/heparin complexes and the interaction of anti-PF4/heparin Abs with platelets. Neither dabigatran nor rivaroxaban had any effect on the interaction of PF4 or anti-PF4/heparin Abs with platelets. In contrast, ODSH inhibited PF4 binding to gel-filtered platelets, displaced PF4 from a PF4-transfected cell line, displaced PF4/heparin complexes from platelet surfaces, and inhibited anti-PF4/heparin Ab binding to PF4/heparin complexes and subsequent platelet activation. Dabigatran and rivaroxaban seem to be options for alternative anticoagulation in patients with a history of HIT. ODSH prevents formation of immunogenic PF4/heparin complexes, and, when given together with heparin, may have the potential to reduce the risk for HIT during treatment with heparin.


2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (11) ◽  
pp. 1657-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Fabris ◽  
Sarfraz Ahmad ◽  
Giuseppe Cella ◽  
Walter P. Jeske ◽  
Jeanine M. Walenga ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective.—This review of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), the most frequent and dangerous side effect of heparin exposure, covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease syndrome. Data Sources and Study Selection.—Current consensus of opinion is given based on literature reports, as well as new information where available. A comprehensive analysis of the reasons for discrepancies in incidence numbers is given. The currently known mechanism is that HIT is mediated by an antibody to the complex of heparin–platelet factor 4, which binds to the Fc receptor on platelets. New evidence suggests a functional heterogeneity in the anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibodies generated to heparin, and a “superactive” heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody that does not require the presence of heparin to promote platelet activation or aggregation has been identified. Up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory markers, as well as preactivation of platelets/endothelial cells/leukocytes, are also considered to be related to the pathophysiology of HIT. Issues related to the specificity of currently available and new laboratory assays that support a clinical diagnosis are addressed in relation to the serotonin-release assay. Past experience with various anticoagulant treatments is reviewed with a focus on the recent successes of thrombin inhibitors and platelet GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors to combat the platelet activation and severe thrombotic episodes associated with HIT. Conclusions.—The pathophysiology of HIT is multifactorial. However, the primary factor in the mediation of the cellular activation is due to the generation of an antibody to the heparin-platelet factor 4 complex. This review is written as a reference for HIT research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2556
Author(s):  
Elmira R. Mordakhanova ◽  
Tatiana A. Nevzorova ◽  
Gulnaz E. Synbulatova ◽  
Lubica Rauova ◽  
John W. Weisel ◽  
...  

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction characterized by thrombocytopenia and a high risk for venous or arterial thrombosis. HIT is caused by antibodies that recognize complexes of platelet factor 4 and heparin. The pathogenic mechanisms of this condition are not fully understood. In this study, we used flow cytometry, fluorimetry, and Western blot analysis to study the direct effects of pathogenic immune complexes containing platelet factor 4 on human platelets isolated by gel-filtration. HIT-like pathogenic immune complexes initially caused pronounced activation of platelets detected by an increased expression of phosphatidylserine and P-selectin. This activation was mediated either directly through the FcγRIIA receptors or indirectly via protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) receptors due to thrombin generated on or near the surface of activated platelets. The immune activation was later followed by the biochemical signs of cell death, such as mitochondrial membrane depolarization, up-regulation of Bax, down-regulation of Bcl-XL, and moderate activation of procaspase 3 and increased calpain activity. The results show that platelet activation under the action of HIT-like immune complexes is accompanied by their death through complex apoptotic and calpain-dependent non-apoptotic pathways that may underlie the low platelet count in HIT.


1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S53-S63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanine M. Walenga ◽  
Bruce E. Lewis ◽  
Debra A. Hoppensteadt ◽  
Jawed Fareed ◽  
Mamdouh Bakbos

Summary: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune mediated response to heparin in which antibody driven thrombosis can have a dramatic life-threatening expression. There is much interest on this subject including studies on the pathophysiologic mechanism, the clinical managements of the initial stages of HIT versus the HIT-positive patient requiring continued anticoagulation versus the HIT patient with thrombosis, the pros and cons of available alterr~aci~~ anticoagulants, and the laboratory assays to aid in the diagnosis of HIT with particular reference to the sensitivity/specificity of the new heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody titer assay. A comprehensive account of these timely issues is given in this article.


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