Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)

Study Title: The Incidence of Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Antibodies to Heparin-PF4 after Cardiac Bypass

IRB#7657-07-9R2ER

CURRENTLY ENROLLING PARTICIPANTS

The purpose of this study is to determine how often cardiac bypass and transplant surgery patients who receive the drug heparin will develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT is a rare immune response to the drug heparin that leads to a low platelet count. Patients with HIT are at risk for the formation of blood clots in different parts of the body. These clots usually occur in the legs (deep venous thrombosis or DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism or PE). Developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia also increases the risk for heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI) and stroke.

Patients will be tested for heparin/PF4 antibodies pre-surgery, as well as prior to discharge and 30 days post surgery. Additionally they will be followed for any serious outcomes that might suggest the presence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia for 90 days post surgery. The study was approved in September 2005 and has a target enrollment of 800 patients.

This study is being conducted through the Rare Disease Clinical Research Network and is funded by the National Institutes for Health.

<<< back to Clinical Trials