Risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia from heparin-bonded vascular prostheses.

Heparin can be bonded to vascular devices to improve their patency. The purpose of this study was to determine if a clinically utilized heparin-bonded Dacron((R)) graft (HBG) places patients at risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and its complications. A commercially available HBG was divided into 1 cm long segments, which were incubated in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) for 24 hr at 37 degrees C.

Platelet function and pharmacologic inhibition.

Platelets have traditionally been understood within the context of hemostasis and hemorrhagic disorders. However, with increasing procedures being performed in smaller vessels and with an increasing incidence of atherosclerosis, the often critical role platelets play is more evident. Platelets are no longer viewed as "scaffolding" for the events of the coagulation cascade but rather as important catalysts in hemostasis, thrombosis, and fibrinolysis.