Introduction:
Fondaparinux is a factor Xa inhibitor used for venous thromboembolism
prevention and treatment [1]. It has a low affinity for platelet
factor 4, making it an alternative agent to unfractionated heparin (UFH)
and low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and a plausible consideration
for patients with a history of HIT with decreased platelets and
hypercoagulable state [2,3]. The use of fondaparinux as a bridging
therapy in patients with mitral mechanical heart valve replacement and
severe thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy has never been discussed
before in the literature.
We report a case of a patient with
a mechanical mitral valve replacement and thrombocytopenia chemotherapy
induced with a successful bridging with fondaparinux. While there is
currently no literature for the use of fondaparinux in patients with
mechanical heart valves.