Faculty Collaboration Database

Protamine-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Transfusion 2013 Oct;53(10):2158-63 PMID: 23384227 PMCID: PMC3655112

Pubmed ID

23384227

DOI

10.1111/trf.12112

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Protamine is widely used to reverse the anticoagulant effects of heparin. Although mild thrombocytopenia is common in patients given protamine after cardiac procedures, acute severe thrombocytopenia has not been described. We encountered a patient who experienced profound thrombocytopenia and bleeding shortly after administration of protamine and performed studies to characterize the responsible mechanism.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patient serum was studied for antibodies that recognize protamine, heparin-protamine complexes, and platelets (PLTs) treated with protamine using flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serotonin release from labeled PLTs.

RESULTS: A high-titer immunoglobulin G antibody was detected in patient serum that recognizes protamine in a complex with heparin or PLT surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and activates PLTs treated with protamine at concentrations achieved in vivo after protamine infusion. The antibody is distinctly different from those found in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia on the basis of its failure to recognize heparin in a complex with PLT factor 4 (PF4) and to release serotonin from labeled PLTs in the absence of protamine.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings made suggest that the patient's antibody is specific for conformational changes induced in protamine when it reacts with heparin or a PLT surface GAG. Development of severe thrombocytopenia after treatment of this patient with protamine defines a previously undescribed mechanism of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Patients given protamine who produce this type of antibody may be at risk of experiencing thrombocytopenia if given the drug a second time while antibody is still present.

Author List

Singla A, Sullivan MJ, Lee G, Bartholomew J, Kapadia S, Aster RH, Curtis BR

Authors

Richard H. Aster MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Curtis PhD Director in the Platelet & Neutrophil Immunology Laboratory department at BloodCenter of Wisconsin

Scopus

2-s2.0-84885869411   16 Citations

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Blood Platelets
Female
Heparin
Heparin Antagonists
Humans
Platelet Activation
Protamines
Receptors, IgG
Thrombocytopenia