Results of a consensus meeting on the use of argatroban in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia requiring antithrombotic therapy - A

article i nfo Argatrobanhas been introduced as an alternative parenteral anticoagulant for HIT-patients in several European countries in 2005. In 2009 a panel of experts discussed their clinical experience with argatrobanbalancing risks and benefits of argatrobantreatment in managing the highly procoagulant status of HIT-patients. This article summarizes the main conclusions of this round table discussion. An ongoing issue is the appropriate dosing of argatrobanin special patient groups. Therefore, dosing recommendations for different HIT-patient groups (ICU patients; non-ICU patients, paediatric patients, and for patients undergoing renal replacement therapies) are summarized in this consensus statement. Because of the strong correlation between argatrobandosing require- ments and scores used to characterize the severityof illness(APACHE; SAPS, SOFA) suitable dosing nomogramsare given. This consensus statement contributes to clinically relevant information on the appropriate use and monitoring of argatrobanbased on the current literature, and provides additional information from clinical experience. As the two other approved drugsfor HIT, danaparoidand lepirudinare either currently not available due to manufacturing problems ( danaparoid) or will be withdrawn from the market in 2012 ( lepirudin), this report should guide physicians who have limited experience with argatrobanhow to use this drug safely in patients with HIT.