Body mass index strongly impacts the diagnosis and incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the surgical intensive care unit

CONCLUSION: Increasing BMI seems to be strongly associated with increased rates of HIT in intensive care unit patients. Obesity is an important new clinical variable for estimating the pretest probability of HIT, and patient “thickness” could be considered a fifth “T” of the 4-T scoring system. Additional biochemical work is indicated to decipher the role of obesity in this immune-mediated condition. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.
Source: Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery - Category: Surgery Tags: AAST 2015 Plenary Papers Source Type: research