A computerized scoring system to improve assessment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia risk

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare immune-mediated adverse drug reaction that can cause thrombocytopenia and potentially fatal paradoxical clotting events. Diagnosis of HIT can be challenging due to non-specific clinical risk factors. Clinical risk assessment tools such as the 4Ts score aid in appropriate workup of the condition, but these tools first require clinician suspicion of the condition. Clinical decision support can limit unnecessary diagnostic testing and possibly aid in identifying patients with HIT. Incorporating computerized risk scoring has the potential to improve the specificity of HIT-related clinical decision support and help achieve a more personalized assessment of the risk of HIT.