Currently, standard treatment of HIT involves the transition from a direct thrombin inhibitor (a type of anticoagulant or blood thinner) to warfarin, a different type of anticoagulant. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) require IV administration and frequent blood draws for dose adjustments, which can lead to prolonged hospitalization. DTIs also affect blood test measurements, making it difficult to determine proper dosages of warfarin.~Fondaparinux is a drug that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of blood clots in deep veins and in the lungs. Fondaparinux is not FDA approved for the treatment of HIT. However, an increasing number of doctors are using fondaparinux instead of DTIs to treat HIT. Although fondaparinux appears to be more convenient and predictable than DTI medications, more research is needed to support its use as a treatment for HIT.
The purpose of this study is to determine how safe and effective fondaparinux is in treating patients with suspected or confirmed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).