Table 1.

The 5 phases of HIT

PhasePlatelet countFunctional assayImmunoassay
Suspected HIT Decreased 
Acute HIT Decreased 
Subacute HIT A Normal 
Subacute HIT B Normal − 
Remote HIT Normal − − 
PhasePlatelet countFunctional assayImmunoassay
Suspected HIT Decreased 
Acute HIT Decreased 
Subacute HIT A Normal 
Subacute HIT B Normal − 
Remote HIT Normal − − 

Patients with suspected HIT are those who are thought to have HIT on clinical grounds but for whom confirmatory laboratory test results are not yet available. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is labeled as having acute HIT, a highly prothrombotic phase that persists until platelet count recovery. Subacute HIT A is the phase after platelet count recovery but before the functional assay becomes negative. Subacute HIT B is the interval after the functional assay becomes negative but before the immunoassay becomes negative. Finally, once anti-PF4 or anti-heparin antibodies are no longer detectable by immunoassay, the patient is said to have remote HIT. Adapted from Cuker.

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