Thrombocytopenia

• Published in: American family physician Vol. 85; no. 6; pp. 612 - 622
• Main Authors: Gauer, Robert L., MD, Braun, Michael M., DO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Academy of Family Physicians 15-03-2012
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; Alcohol use; Algorithms; Anemia; Anticoagulants; Biopsy; Blood platelets; Bone marrow; Chemotherapy; Chicken pox; Chronic Disease; Comorbidity; Congenital diseases; Cytomegalovirus; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Emergencies; Enzymes; Etiology; Family medical history; Family physicians; Female; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Hematologic Tests; Hematology; Hepatitis C; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Hypertension; Infections; Internal Medicine; Liver diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders - complications; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes - complications; Patients; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; Rubella; Sepsis; Thrombocytopenia - diagnosis; Thrombocytopenia - etiology; Thrombocytopenia - therapy; Thrombosis; Viruses
• ISSN: 0002-838X; 1532-0650

Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count of less than 150 × 103 per μL. It is often discovered incidentally when obtaining a complete blood count during an office visit. The etiology usually is not obvious, and additional investigation is required. Patients with platelet counts greater than 50 × 103 per μL rarely have symptoms. A platelet count from 30 to 50 × 103 per μL rarely manifests as purpura. A count from 10 to 30 × 103 per μL may cause bleeding with minimal trauma. A platelet count less than 5 × 103 per μL may cause spontaneous bleeding and constitutes a hematologic emergency. Patients who present with thrombocytopenia as part of a multisystem disorder usually are ill and require urgent evaluation and treatment. These patients most likely have an acute infection, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, liver disease, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or a hematologic disorder. During pregnancy, preeclampsia and the HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome are associated with thrombocytopenia. Patients with isolated thrombocytopenia commonly have drug-induced thrombocytopenia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, pseudothrombocytopenia, or if pregnant, gestational thrombocytopenia. A history, physical examination, and laboratory studies can differentiate patients who require immediate intervention from those who can be treated in the outpatient setting. Treatment is based on the etiology and, in some cases, treating the secondary cause results in normalization of platelet counts. Consultation with a hematologist should be considered if patients require hospitalization, if there is evidence of systemic disease, or if thrombocytopenia worsens despite initial treatment.