FRCPath Haem Part 1 MCQs-Haemostasis 502

A 67-year-old man undergoes coronary artery bypass grafting and receives unfractionated heparin. On day 7, his platelet count falls from 240 × 10⁹/L to 85 × 10⁹/L, and he develops pain in the left thigh. Doppler ultrasound scan confirm a new deep vein thrombosis. 4T score calculated. He is diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), and argatroban is commenced.

What is the approximate plasma half-life of argatroban in a patient with normal hepatic function?

A. 25 minutes

B. 45-50 minutes

C. 3–4 hours

D. 12 hours

E. 17–21 hours