Did you know that heparin, one of the most commonly used anticoagulants in hospitals, can, in some cases, trigger a serious, life-threatening immune reaction in certain patients?
Yes, this complication is known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), and it occurs when antibodies to heparin activate platelets, leading to clots throughout the circulatory system, dramatically lowering platelet counts, and increasing the risk of bleeding. Complications of HIT include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction, amputation, and death, with mortality rates for HIT exceeding 20% in some studies. In the United States, an estimated 10,000 cases of Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia occur each year.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.