[Thrombocytopenia as an incidental finding]

Thrombocytopenia as an incidental finding Abstract. Platelets play an important role in normal hemostasis and their number in the periphereal blood is normally very stable. Thrombocytopenia is frequently encountered in the clinic. As a first step, one has to exclude so called pseudothrombocytopenia due to preanalytic (EDTA as an anticoagulant) conditions. This can be done by determination of platelet counts in citrate or alternative (e. g. Thrombo-Exact) tubes or by performing a blood smear, where platelets are seen clumped. A blood smear is also the mainstay of further work-up as the differential diagnosis is very broad. In bleeding patients early therapeutic interventions have to be considered. Further work-up should be done stepwise and in collaboration with a hematologist. A definite diagnosis is essential in order to define specific therapeutic interventions, mainly in bleeding patients, in patients scheduled for surgery or patients taking antiaggregation and / or anticoagulation therapy.