Failure of low dosage thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase to treat heparin-induced thrombocytopenic-thrombotic syndrome

We report the case of a 58-year-old man affected by thrombocytopenic-thrombotic syndrome induced by therapy with subutaneous unfractionated heparin for superficial phlebitis of the left inferior limb. Thrombolytic therapy with low-dosage streptokinase, reported as successful in a previous case described by other authors, was inefficacious and the patientʹs outcome was unfavourable. Thrombocytopenic-thrombotic syndrome may be a dreadful and often deadly consequence of heparin therapy, and its treatment needs investigation, owing to currently broadening use of anticoagulant treatment with both unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins.