BACKGROUND: Patients with unstable angina are usually treated with unfractionated heparin and aspirin, but very little is known about the prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies and their relation to thrombotic complications some time after the acute phase of unstable angina. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and the prevalence of heparin-dependent platelet-reactive antibodies in patients treated with unfractionated heparin and the occurrence of thrombosis in a 1 year follow-up. METHODS: Patient population included 124 consecutive patients with unstable angina treated with unfractionated heparin for almost 5 days. The prevalence of heparin-dependent platelet-reactive antibodies using an ELISA assay was measured before the beginning of heparin therapy and after 7 and 40 days. The platelet count was measured at the same time and the presence of thrombotic occurrences was checked. Clinical follow-up lasted 1 year. RESULTS: At baseline no one patient was positive for heparin-induced antibodies. On day 6, 38 patients (30%) produced a positive heparin-induced antibody result and 30 patients (24%) had an intermediate result. The majority of patients (74%) who developed antibodies became positive after 6 days of heparin therapy. The combined incidence of death, myocardial infarction, recurrent angina, urgent revascularization and stroke was 66% in patients with antibodies and 44% in patients without antibodies during a 1 year follow-up. The incidence of combined primary end points was statistically higher in patients positive for antibodies. The log-rank test was statistically significant (chi2 = 4.39, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: No one patient developed a clinical evidence of thrombocytopenia. Nevertheless thrombotic events during follow-up were more common in patients who developed heparin-induced antibodies. These patients need a more accurate evaluation and surveillance after hospital discharge.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients treated with unfractionated heparin: prevalence of thrombosis in a 1 year follow-up / Mattioli, Anna Vittoria; L., Bonetti; S., Sternieri; Mattioli, Giorgio. - In: ITALIAN HEART JOURNAL. - ISSN 1129-471X. - STAMPA. - 1(2000), pp. 43-44.

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