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Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count under 150x109/litre. It may be found as a bystander to other pathology or directly related to an underlying haematological condition. Apart from laboratory artefact, it should be treated seriously as it often reflects serious underlying disease. This review uses short case histories to illustrate how to approach thrombocytopenia during the initial presentation of an adult patient to hospital. This article guides the general hospital physician through the narrow but potentially confusing differential diagnoses related to thrombocytopenia, with particular focus on immune thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia in pregnancy deserves special consideration and will not be discussed in this article.

Original publication

DOI

10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.507

Type

Conference paper

Publication Date

02/09/2019

Volume

80

Pages

507 - 512

Keywords

Acute Disease, Diagnosis, Differential, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products, Fibrinogen, Humans, International Normalized Ratio, Partial Thromboplastin Time, Platelet Transfusion, Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic, Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic, Thrombocytopenia