Recognition, treatment, and prevention of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: review and update.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is one of the most important life- and limb-threatening adverse drug events encountered by physicians. Serious sequelae associated with HIT can be avoided with early recognition and appropriate treatment. This review examines the recommendations published in 2004 by the American College of Chest Physicians on the recognition, treatment, and prevention of HIT together with more recent data, especially regarding treatment with direct thrombin inhibitors.