Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) is popularly used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. However, rhTPO therapy for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia relating to cardiopulmonary bypass has not been previously described. A young patient developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia during open-heart surgery. Postoperative rhTPO therapy (15000 units injection hypodermatica once daily for consecutive 3 days) made a quick platelet recovery without any side effects. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia associated with cardiopulmonary bypass is more likely to be benign, and is curable to rhTPO therapy. The preliminary rhTPO administration of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in association with cardiopulmonary bypass shows satisfactory pharmaceutical effects with lower dose, shorter duration treatment and shorter platelet increase time and recovery time in comparison with those for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. rhTPO therapy does not produce any side effects and it could avoid or minimize necessary blood product infusions.