Thrombotic complications in three hemodialysis patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type I.

Although unfractionated heparin is the most commonly used anticoagulant for hemodialysis and has been associated with bleeding episodes, a more devastating complication that can occur is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). It is believed that HIT type II is much more dangerous than type I, because HIT type II is associated with thromboembolic complications whereas there are no such complications in HIT type I. However, increased clot formation in the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis with unfractionated heparin is sometimes experienced by not only patients with HIT type II but also those with HIT type I.