Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Associated with SRA-Negative Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Case Report

Authors

Floyd D. Silva, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Allison E. Burnett, University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Anand Padmanabhan, Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Marian A. Rollins-Raval, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Noah P. Splinter, Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Masoom J. Desai, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.Follow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-21-2023

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are very few documented reports in literature of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) caused by immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Further, there are very few reports of false negative serotonin release assays (SRAs) when testing for immune-mediated HIT.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 60- year-old male with recent unfractionated heparin administration for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, an elevated 4T score of 5 and acute CVST in which immune-mediated HIT was suspected. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening assay was positive for PF4 antibodies and subsequent reflexive SRA testing was negative. However, given the clinical picture, a false-negative SRA was suspected (and eventually confirmed), prompting use of the alternative PF4-dependent p-selectin expression assay (PEA) which was confirmed to be positive. The patient was successfully managed with a bivalirudin infusion and eventually transitioned to apixaban.

CONCLUSION: It is uncommon for immune-mediated HIT with thrombosis to manifest as CVST. Similarly, false-negative SRA is uncommon in immune-mediated HIT. Take-away lessons from our case report include considering HIT in CVST patients with an elevated 4T score and considering the entire clinical picture and degree of suspicion for HIT when interpreting negative HIT testing results. The PEA, in conjunction with the 4Ts score, may be considered as an alternate diagnostic assay for HIT.

Recommended Citation

Silva FD, Burnett AE, Padmanabhan A, Rollins-Raval MA, Splinter NP, Desai MJ. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with SRA-negative heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: case report. Thromb J. 2023 Apr 21;21(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12959-023-00490-7. PMID: 37085884; PMCID: PMC10122294.