Related Experiment Videos
Establishing the etiology of thrombocytopenia
1Regional Cancer Center, Erie, Pa., USA.
Hemostasis is dependent on an adequate number of well-functioning platelets in the circulating blood. As the number of circulating platelets decreases, the chance of bleeding increases. Thrombocytopenia, a platelet count of less than 150,000 per microliter, is a laboratory finding and not a diagnosis. Therefore, once thrombocytopenia is identified, a detailed history, physical examination, and further laboratory tests are used to establish an etiology. This article reviews the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombocytopenia.
Hemostasis is dependent on an adequate number of well-functioning platelets in the circulating blood. As the number of circulating platelets decreases, the chance of bleeding increases. Thrombocytopenia, a platelet count of less than 150,000 per microliter, is a laboratory finding and not a diagnosis. Therefore, once thrombocytopenia is identified, a detailed history, physical examination, and further laboratory tests are used to establish an etiology. This article reviews the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombocytopenia.