HEPARIN-ASSOCIATED THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN A PATIENT WITH POLYCYTHEMIA-VERA - THE IMPORTANCE OF A MARKED DROP IN PLATELET COUNT

The present report describes a patient with polycythemia vera who developed a severe arterial and venous thrombosis caused by systemically administered heparin. An immunologic implication has been proposed as pathophysiological mechanism of this heparin-associated thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome. It is suggested, however, that a strong decrease in platelet count as occurred in this patient leads to a higher chance of developing this complication.