Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a reduced amount of platelets in the blood. It is the result of an imbalance between the formation and destruction of platelets. Either few platelets are produced in the bone marrow or they are destroyed prematurely. Sometimes it can be both.

Clinical picture

 * Bleeding into the skin – petechiae with the development of purpura, larger hematomas (disproportionate to the insult / arise spontaneously).
 * Bleeding from the mucous membranes – epistaxis, bleeding from the gums , menometrorrhagia, ( hematuria , enterorrhagia ).
 * Any organ can be affected by bleeding - worst retinal + CNS bleeding.
 * Minor injuries (puncture during blood collection) → bleeding that is often difficult to control, more serious injuries → unstoppable bleeding.
 * Spontaneous bleeding manifestations only when thrombocytes drop below 30.10 9 /l, with a higher number of suspicions of a current disorder of their function.

Thrombocytopenia from increased sequestration

 * By increasing the retained pool of total platelet mass outside the circulation,
 * Most often in splenomegaly.

Related articles

 * Thrombocytopenia of the newborn
 * Hematological examination
 * Pre-transfusion examination
 * Examination of blood coagulation
 * Purpura