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Trend of Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Type II (HIT-II) in Berlin – Data from the National Pharmacovigilance Center Berlin (PVZ-FAKOS)
Entwicklung der Heparin-induzierten Thrombozytopenie Typ II (HIT-II) in Berlin. Daten vom nationalen Pharmakovigilanz-Zentrum Berlin (PVZ-FAKOS)
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Veröffentlicht: | 6. November 2008 |
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Background and aim: The incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II (HIT-II) has been reported to be significantly higher in patients treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) than in those treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The increased in-hospital use of LMWH instead of UFH might thus have led to a reduction of the number of patients with HIT-II, but data on this hypothesis are lacking.
Material and method: Using an active case surveillance approach, the national Pharmacovigilance Center Berlin (PVZ-FAKOS) identifies cases of HIT-II occurring in Berlin. Each diagnosis is validated. A standardized interview is conducted with each patient, Heparin therapy and other hospital medication is documented, and a medical documentation is filled in by the physician to ascertain comorbidity and other possible risk factors.
Results: A total of 202 patients with validated HIT-II were identified between Jan 2001 and Dec 2007, with N=145 (71.8%) caused by UFH; N=36 (17.8%) caused by LMWH; and N=21 (10.4%) who had used both types of heparin in the last 3 days before occurrence of HIT-II. The number of cases decreased substantially between 2001 (N=60) and 2007 (N=16). This trend was similarly observed for UFH (42 vs. 11 cases) and LMWH (13 vs. 2 cases).
Conclusion: The number of cases of HIT-II in Berlin decreased between 2001 and 2007. As this decrease was evident not only for UFH but also for LMWH, reasons beyond replacement of UFH by LMWH might play a role.
Acknowledgement: PVZ-FAKOS is being funded by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Germany.