Platelet counts decline to <50% of the pre-heparin baseline value or to <150,000/µL2
	Fall in platelet count occurs between 4 and 14 days after the onset of heparin therapy3
	In patients who have received heparin within the previous 100 days, platelet count falls rapidly, usually within 10 hours, or acute systemic reactions occur within 5 to 30 minutes of an IV heparin bolus2
	Unexplained TECs develop4 or, rarely, erythematous or necrotizing skin lesions appear at the heparin injection site2

	Heparin is stopped promptly
	Treatment with a direct thrombin inhibitor such as REFLUDAN is initiated immediately, without waiting for laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis
	Lower limbs are assessed for DVT
	If long-term anticoagulation is necessary, transition to oral anticoagulants will be required, but the transition should be initiated only after platelet counts begin normalizing
	Patients with acute or recent HIT should not be re-exposed to heparin

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) Heparin Use Clinical Consequences of HIT Thromboembolic Complications (TECs) Iceberg Model of HIT Economic Consequences of HIT-Associated TECs When to Suspect HIT Type 2 Vigilant Monitoring is Critical General Diagnosis and Treatment Algorithm for HIT Laboratory confirmation of diagnosis