BACKGROUND: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by platelet-activating antibodies that recognize platelet factor 4/heparin (PF4/hep) complexes. The in vitro demonstration of PF4/hep antibodies using functional and immunological methods is essential for optimal management of patients suspected to have HIT. Since functional assays are technically challenging and limited to specialized laboratories, antigen-binding assays are commonly used in routine laboratories. STUDY DESIGN: Blood samples from 448 consecutive patients in whom HIT was suspected were investigated using a latex agglutination test HemosIL® HIT-Ab((PF4-H)) (HemosIL-Ab), two chemiluminescence tests HemosIL AcuStar HIT-Ab((PF4-H)) (HemosIL AcuStar-Ab) and AcuStar HIT-IgG((PF4-H)) (HemosIL AcuStar-IgG), an in-house PF4/hep IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and the heparin induced platelet aggregation (HIPA) test. RESULTS: Antibodies against PF4/hep were detectable in 44 out of 119 samples using HemosIL-Ab among which 20 samples were also reactive in the HIPA; and in 122, 64 and 108 out of 448 sera using HemosIL AcuStar-Ab, HemosIL AcuStar-IgG and in-house PF4/hep IgG-EIA, respectively, among which 52 sera were also reactive in the HIPA. All assays had high sensitivities of >95% for platelet activating antibodies; however, they differed in their specificities. The highest specificity and positive predictive value was observed by HemosIL AcuStar-IgG (96% and 78%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Automated immunoassays are useful in the laboratory investigations of HIT and present a potential improvement toward standardization of laboratory investigations of HIT. The high positive predictive capability may justify treating the patient with alternative anticoagulants without waiting for the results of a functional assay.

Evaluation of automated immunoassays in the diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia / Althaus K;Hron G;Strobel U;Abbate R;Rogolino A;Davidson S;Greinacher A;Bakchoul T. - In: THROMBOSIS RESEARCH. - ISSN 0049-3848. - STAMPA. - 131:(2013), pp. 85-90. [10.1016/j.thromres.2013.01.005]

Evaluation of automated immunoassays in the diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia.

ABBATE, ROSANNA;
2013

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by platelet-activating antibodies that recognize platelet factor 4/heparin (PF4/hep) complexes. The in vitro demonstration of PF4/hep antibodies using functional and immunological methods is essential for optimal management of patients suspected to have HIT. Since functional assays are technically challenging and limited to specialized laboratories, antigen-binding assays are commonly used in routine laboratories. STUDY DESIGN: Blood samples from 448 consecutive patients in whom HIT was suspected were investigated using a latex agglutination test HemosIL® HIT-Ab((PF4-H)) (HemosIL-Ab), two chemiluminescence tests HemosIL AcuStar HIT-Ab((PF4-H)) (HemosIL AcuStar-Ab) and AcuStar HIT-IgG((PF4-H)) (HemosIL AcuStar-IgG), an in-house PF4/hep IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and the heparin induced platelet aggregation (HIPA) test. RESULTS: Antibodies against PF4/hep were detectable in 44 out of 119 samples using HemosIL-Ab among which 20 samples were also reactive in the HIPA; and in 122, 64 and 108 out of 448 sera using HemosIL AcuStar-Ab, HemosIL AcuStar-IgG and in-house PF4/hep IgG-EIA, respectively, among which 52 sera were also reactive in the HIPA. All assays had high sensitivities of >95% for platelet activating antibodies; however, they differed in their specificities. The highest specificity and positive predictive value was observed by HemosIL AcuStar-IgG (96% and 78%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Automated immunoassays are useful in the laboratory investigations of HIT and present a potential improvement toward standardization of laboratory investigations of HIT. The high positive predictive capability may justify treating the patient with alternative anticoagulants without waiting for the results of a functional assay.
2013
131
85
90
Althaus K;Hron G;Strobel U;Abbate R;Rogolino A;Davidson S;Greinacher A;Bakchoul T
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Hit.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Versione finale referata (Postprint, Accepted manuscript)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 482.25 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
482.25 kB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/794365
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 60
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 53
social impact