The Relationship Between the Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) are immune-mediated thrombotic conditions caused by antibodies targeted to a protein-antigen complex. Although each disorder is attributed to two distinct antibodies, these autoimmune disorders are characterized by a similar pathogenesis that includes a hypercoagulable state, platelet activation, damage to the vascular endothelium, and inflammation. APS and HIT share similarities in the clinical presentation because each is associated with thrombocytopenia, a high risk of thrombosis in all venous and arterial sites, and catastrophic thrombotic outcomes occur if untreated. Understanding the disease process for one disorder could potentially aid in understanding the other disorder.