Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of a heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in HIV immunodeficiency: in regards to a pediatric case (a case report)

Abstract

We are dealing with a female infant case who had a cerebral venous thrombosis, revealing a secondary immunodeficiency, owing to a human immunodeficiency virus infection. After anticoagulant treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), it came to light that she had a severe thrombocytopenia, suggesting a thrombocytopenia induced by an auto-immune origin of heparin. Within a developing country in which means of confirmation are not always available, it was difficult to identify whether severe thrombocytopenia was owing to HIV infection, sepsis, or heparin. The therapeutic decision was therefore difficult, because stopping anticoagulation can lead to a cerebral thrombosis extension.