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During the congress, E-Posters will be accessible to all participants on the congress website 24/7, as well as in the E-poster stations in the congress center.
Preparing your E-Poster
Please review the E-Poster format requirements carefully when preparing your E-Poster. Should your E-Poster not meet the mentioned requirements, it may not be displayed as described above.
E-Poster Submission Deadline
Please prepare and upload your E-Poster no later than March 14, 2026 11.59PM CET. After this date, you will no longer be able to prepare and upload your E-poster and it will not be displayed and accessible on the congress website.
Please follow the instructions below to input your abstract title.
Abstract titles should be brief and reflect the content of the abstract.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a severe complication that can occur in patients receiving any form or amount of heparin, leading to a fall in platelet counts and a hypercoagulable state. Particularly in hemodialysis (HD) patients, who are almost invariably exposed to heparin, there is a high risk of developing thrombotic events. However, it remains an underrecognized complication, more commonly in resource-limited settings where confirmatory testing is unavailable. This study describes the clinical profile, platelet trends, and 4T-based risk stratification of hemodialysis patients receiving unfractionated heparin at a tertiary center in Northern Mindanao.
A retrospective cross-sectional review was conducted among adult outpatients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at Northern Mindanao Medical Center from April 2024 to March 2025. HIT probability was assessed using the 4T score (low, intermediate, high). Data included demographics, comorbidities, heparin exposure, and outcomes. Associations between thrombocytopenia severity and 4T category were analyzed using chi-square statistics with Cramer’s V to determine effect size.
Seventy-two patients were included; 59.7% were aged >45 years and 55.6% were male. Common comorbidities were chronic glomerulonephritis (31.9%) and diabetes mellitus (30.6%). Thrombocytopenia occurred in 97%, with a mean platelet decline of 76×10⁹/L (p<0.001). Based on 4T scoring, 70.9% of patients had a moderate-to-high probability for HIT (70.8% intermediate; 29.2% high). Thrombocytopenia severity was significantly associated with HIT probability (χ²=39.045, p<0.001, Cramer’s V=0.736). Age, sex, comorbidities, heparin dose, and therapy duration were not significant. No thrombotic events or alternative causes of thrombocytopenia were identified.
In this cohort of hemodialysis patients receiving unfractionated heparin, significant platelet decline was common, and most had intermediate-to-high 4T scores suggestive of possible HIT. The magnitude of platelet fall was the strongest correlate of higher HIT probability. However, since confirmatory anti-PF4 testing was unavailable, these results indicate increased clinical suspicion. Routine platelet monitoring and 4T-based assessment may support early recognition and safer anticoagulation practices in dialysis units. Larger prospective studies with laboratory confirmation are recommended.
