Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Type II Because of Heparin-Coated Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft Used to Bypass

Heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene femoropopliteal bypass grafts outperform expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts without heparin in a long-term comparison

“…Concern has been expressed that the heparin molecule in HePTFE grafts may initiate heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; however, such a complication has been reported only rarely. [36][37][38] Alternative heparin-bonding techniques (eg, traditional covalent and ionic heparin bonding) release heparin into the bloodstream over time and may yield different outcomes. The Propaten graft is constructed with an endpoint covalent bonding technique that affixes each heparin molecule to the graft surface, permitting its active site to interact freely with antithrombin while retaining heparin on the graft in its bioactive form.…”

Taking advantage of the non-anticoagulant effects of heparin

“…A very intriguing clinical setting for the use of ODSH in acute HIT would be patients, who develop HIT after insertion of a heparin-coated vascular graft. In these patients, currently, explantation of the heparin-coated graft becomes sometimes necessary (4)(5)(6). As PF4/heparin antibodies usually decline within weeks despite continuation of heparin 7, co-administration of ODSH until the antibodies have disappeared may prevent graft removal and potential limb loss.…”