Heparin Facts dot Com

The Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Crisis

Leading pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical researchers estimate 360,000 to 600,000 patients per year develop Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia. Of those patients that develop HIT, it is estimated that 50% develop blood clots called thromboemboli (an estimated 180,000 to 300,000 annual cases), and, of those patients, 10% to 20% face limb amputation (an estimated 18,000 to 60,000 annual cases), and 20% to 30% face death (an estimated 36,000 to 90,000). Survivors of HIT also face residual deficits related to strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary emboli.

HEPARINFACTS.COM was created to help bring awareness to the significant risks of an adverse drug reaction known as heparin induced thrombocytopenia ("HIT"). HIT is an antibody-mediated reaction of the circulatory system that can result in clotting complications, amputations, serious injuries and death. While the drug heparin has also been associated with other adverse reactions such as hemorrhage and elevated liver enzymes, HEPARINFACTS.COM is limited to information relating to HIT.

HEPARINFACTS.COM is published by the law firms of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., Lewis and Associates and Tortoreti, Tomes & Callahan, P.C.

Speak to an Attorney with HIT case Experience

(877) - 2HEPARIN
(877)243-7274

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Myths and Misconceptions (That Will Cause Trouble for You and Your Patient) Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1961-1964. Lawrence Rice, MD.

Finding Haystacks Full of Needles From Opus to Osler, Chest. 2005;127:1488-1490, Robert L. Levine, MD.

HIT Consortium Issues Consensus Recommendations to Improve Patient Care and Guard Against Limb- and Life-Threatening Condition; 2005, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall (citing findings by the HIT Working Group, an initiative sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline)

Possible predictors of poor clinical outcome in patients with Heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaa are identified. GSK News Release. Birmingham, UK, July 15, 2003. Updated July 15, 2003 - © 2001-2005 GlaxoSmithKline. Treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a critical review. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:361-369. Hirsh J, Heddle N, Kelton JG.

Unfractionated heparin: focus on a high-alert drug. Pharmacotherapy. 2004 Aug;24(8 Pt 2):146S-155S. Niccolai CS, Hicks RW, Oertel L, Francis JL.

Series introduction, by Samuel Z. Goldhaber: In: Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia, 3rd ed. Warkentin and Greinacher, (Marcel Decker, Inc, 2004).

Venous limb gangrene during overlapping therapy with warfarin and a direct thrombin inhibitor for immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Am J Hematol. 2002;71:50-52. Smythe MA, Warkentin TE, Stephens JL, Zakalik D, Mattson JC.

A 14-year study of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Am J Med. 1996;101:502-507. Warkentin TE, Kelton JG.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: natural history, diagnosis, and management. Vasc Med. 2001;6(2):113-9. Deitcher SR, Carman TL.

Argatroban anticoagulation in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:1849-1856. Lewis BE, Wallis DE, Leya F, Hursting MJ, Kelton JG.

PUBLIC DISCLAIMER The information on this website is not intended to provide medical advice and should not be relied on in the provision of medical services.

GENERAL DISCLAIMERS The information contained within this Web site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or an offer to perform services on any subject matter. The content of this Web site contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments, verdicts or settlements. Recipients of content from this site, clients or otherwise, should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in the site without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from an attorney licensed in the recipient's state. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information or other contents of this site is expressly disclaimed. Any information sent via Internet e-mail or through this Web site is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis. The transmission of this Web site in part or in whole, and/or communication through this site does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship between any attorneys referred to in the Web site and any recipients. The ability to access any third-party content through this Web site does not represent an endorsement of, or confer responsibility for such content on the part of the firms. Nothing herein is intended to create an attorney-client relationship and shall not be construed as legal advice. This is not an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship.

NO REPRESENTATIONS This material may contain technical or typographical errors. Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., Neal Lewis, Lewis and Associates and Tortoreti, Tomes & Callahan, P.C. do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness or suitability. IN NO EVENT SHALL Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., Neal Lewis, Lewis and Associates and Tortoreti, Tomes & Callahan, P.C. BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS MATERIAL, FOR ANY USE OF THIS WEBSITE, OR FOR ANY OTHER HYPERLINKED WEBSITE. Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., Neal Lewis, Lewis and Associates and Tortoreti, Tomes & Callahan, P.C. take no responsibility and make no warranty whatever for the content or information contained on sites linked to or from this site. All such links are provided on this Web site solely for the convenience of users and do not represent any endorsement, advertisement or sponsorship of linked sites or any products or services offered.