Transient Global Amnesia as the Presenting Feature of Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia

A 57‐year‐old man developed transient global amnesia within an hour of bolus unfractionated heparin administration on day 4 post‐mitral valve replacement. Both immunoglobulin G‐specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and serotonin release assay were strongly positive for the antibodies that cause heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia. The patient's cognitive functions returned to normal following discontinuation of unfractionated heparin and warfarin and commencement of lepirudin infusion. (J Card Surg 2010;25:300‐302)