Patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are at risk of circuit thrombosis due to constant contact between blood and the extracorporeal components. Unfractionated heparin has traditionally been used in this setting as a systemic form of anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis of the circuit. However, if a patient develops heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an alternative anticoagulant would be required while the patient is maintained on ECMO. Unfortunately, the pharmacokinetic changes induced by ECMO and critical illness may potentially affect optimal drug dosing. In addition, other modalities, such as continuous renal replacement therapy, may further complicate dosing strategies. We report the case of a 27-year-old man with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome who developed HIT while on venovenous ECMO with continuous venovenous hemofiltration. We describe the successful use of an argatroban infusion in this setting at much higher doses than what has previously been reported in the adult literature.
Keywords: argatroban; extracorporeal circulation; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; renal replacement therapy; thrombocytopenia.