Do patients with the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome have heparin-specific antibodies?
PURPOSE: Patients with the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HIT) have heparin-associated antibodies (HAb+), which, in the presence of heparin, are responsible for platelet activation and aggregation. This study addressed the questions: (1) are the antibodies specific for heparin; and (2) how do the antibodies cause platelet aggregation? METHODS: Plasmas from 79 patients with HIT were divided into seven plasma samples: HAb+ plasma sample 1 (24 pooled plasmas); HAb+ plasma sample 2 (50 pooled plasmas); and HAb+ plasma samples 3 through 7 (individual plasmas). Normal patient plasmas were used as controls (HAb-). RESULTS: All seven HAb+ plasma samples caused platelet aggregation (PLA) in the presence of heparin and formed a precipitation line with heparin in gel immunodiffusion plates (HAb- plasmas did neither). The HAb+ plasma samples reacted with heparin, as determined by immunoprecipitation in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel, with the production of a band at 50 kd (no
Related Questions
- Is bivalirudin an option for treating heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients not undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention?
- Are anti-polymer antibodies correlated with pain and fatigue severity in patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome?
- Do patients with the heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome have heparin-specific antibodies?
