Conditions: Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Keywords: heparin-induced thrombocytopenia thrombocytopenia HIT thrombosis blood clot blood thinner anticoagulant heparin warfarin fondaparinux Arixtra
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 3
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine how safe and effective fondaparinux is in treating patients with suspected or confirmed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Detailed description:
Currently, standard treatment of HIT involves the transition from a direct thrombin inhibitor (a type of anticoagulant or "blood thinner") to warfarin, a different type of anticoagulant. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) require IV administration and frequent blood draws for dose adjustments, which can lead to prolonged hospitalization. DTIs also affect blood test measurements, making it difficult to determine proper dosages of warfarin.

Fondaparinux is a drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of blood clots in deep veins and in the lungs. Fondaparinux is not FDA approved for the treatment of HIT. However, an increasing number of doctors are using fondaparinux instead of DTIs to treat HIT. Although fondaparinux appears to be more convenient and predictable than DTI medications, more research is needed to support its use as a treatment for HIT.

Arms:
arm 1: daily subcutaneous injection of fondaparinux (7.5-10 mg)

Interventions: intervention 1: fondaparinux intervention 2: warfarin
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Dosage form: subcutaneous injection; dosage: 7.5 to 10.0 mg; frequency and duration: daily until blood test results rule out confirmed HIT - for patients with confirmed HIT, continue daily until INR (blood clotting) measurement rises to at least 2 intervention 2: Dosage form: oral; dosage: 2.5 to 5.0 mg; frequency and duration: (for confirmed HIT only) once daily, to begin when blood platelet count reaches at least 100,000, and continue for approximately 4 weeks

Protocol document: