Abstract: |
To study the production of anti-platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4)/heparin complex antibodies of Ig (immunoglobulin) G/IgA/IgM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [HIT] antibodies) in 79 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery, we employed Deltaoptical density (OD) as a marker of HIT-antibody production. The DeltaODs were calculated from the differences in the ODs using ELISA. Patient were classified into 3 DeltaOD ranges: DeltaOD >/= 1.0, DeltaOD >/= 0.4 to d-dimer level, postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), use of cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative thrombocytosis were not considered for the 3 DeltaOD classifications. None of the 6 patients with DeltaOD >/=1.0 and a positive functional assay was diagnosed with HIT due to the absence of HIT-derived thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, HIT-antibody production increased until day 7 after heparin cessation and reached a trace level on day 14. It was demonstrated that HIT-antibody production is in remission unless there is any evidence of a further increase during the second week postsurgery. |