Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT)—an overview: what does the nephrologist need to know and do?

In an era where medical and critical care patients are more commonly subject to thromboprophylaxis, prompt recognition and appropriate treatment of Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) is required to reduce the risk of serious thrombotic events. In this issue of the Clinical Kidney Journal, Thong et al. present two cases of HIT after initiation of dialysis therapy with heparin as anticoagulant (see ‘Management of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) in patients with systemic vasculitis and pulmonary haemorrhage’ in this issue). This prompts us to present the following overview on diagnosis and management of patients with HIT requiring regular dialysis therapy.