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To investigate the influence of unfractionated heparin on heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II.In 162 patients with internal diseases treated therapeutically of prophylactically with unfractionated heparin (heparin sodium, heparin calcium), we carried out a prospective study to determine the incidence of HIT type I and II. 55.6% of the patients were female (n = 90) with an average age of 76.5 years (range: 25 to 96 years) and 44.4% male (n = 72) with an average age of 67.5 years (range: 17 to 93 years). A platelet count was taken regularly before the start of heparin treatment, on the first day of treatment and then every second day from day 5 to 20. Whenever HIT II was suspected, an HIPA test was performed.Type I HIT occurred in 10%, type II in 3% of the cases. Two of the 5 patients with type II developed severe thrombotic complications.In view of the high incidence of HIT, regular platelet counts should always be carried out in patients receiving heparin treatment.

The diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans may be difficult to establish in the everyday clinical setting.In 16 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans vital capillary microscopy was carried out on the nailfold on all ten digits. The longest visible capillary length was noted. As controls we employed 86 healthy subjects.The measurement of the respective longest visible capillary on the nailfold revealed a visible capillary length of more than 0.6 mm in 38% of all patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (n = 16), such capillary lengths were not to be found among healthy subjects (n = 86).Vital capillary microscopic determination of the visible capillary length is a simple-to-perform, non-invasive examination, which can help to establish the diagnosis.