Thrombocytopenia resident survival guide: Difference between revisions
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==Do's== | ==Do's== | ||
*Bone marrow biopsy should be done for patients that are older than 60 years of age to rule out myelodysplastic syndrome or lymphoproliferative disorders. | |||
*Treatment should be considered for patients with platelet counts less than 30,000 per microliter. | |||
==Dont's== | ==Dont's== | ||
Revision as of 17:14, 14 January 2014
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [2]
Introduction
Thrombocytopenia refers to relatively few platelets in blood. A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood, determined by the 2.5th lower percentile of the normal platelet count distribution.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
Common Causes
- Bone marrow suppression (for example chemotherapy, irradiation)
- Chronic alcohol use
- Chronic liver disease
- Congenital thrombocytopenia
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Drug-induced thrombocytopenia
- Gestational thrombocytopenia
- HELLP syndrome
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
- Infections
- Preeclampsia
- Pseudothrombocytopenia
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Management
Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the approach to thrombocytopenia.
Do's
- Bone marrow biopsy should be done for patients that are older than 60 years of age to rule out myelodysplastic syndrome or lymphoproliferative disorders.
- Treatment should be considered for patients with platelet counts less than 30,000 per microliter.