hirudin and Hepatitis--Autoimmune

Postoperative encephalopathy after orthotopic liver transplantation can be difficult to diagnose. We report a case of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a liver transplant patient who had seizures. Due to poor liver function the patient developed hepatorenal syndrome requiring continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD). Initially we used heparin as the anticoagulant. After the diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was made, we switched to r-hirudin. No serious side effects, e.g. bleeding or immune sensitization, were seen.

Topics: Adult; Fatal Outcome; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hemofiltration; Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Hirudin Therapy; Hirudins; Humans; Liver Circulation; Liver Transplantation; Male; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Prothrombin Time