Catheter-directed thrombolysis of acute lower extremity arterial thrombosis in a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an underdiagnosed problem, and the optimal treatment of arterial thrombosis in patients with HIT remains controversial. There are many angiographic procedures which require heparin as an adjunctive agent; however, some of the heparin-related complications and their management remains unclear. We are presenting a 77-year-old male patient with HIT, who developed acute lower extremity limb threatening ischemia due to arterial thrombosis. In our case, the patient has been successfully treated with percutaneous catheter-directed thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator and a direct thrombin inhibitor argatroban. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.